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ANCIENT AND MODERN 



GERMANTOWN 



MOUNT AIRY 



-AND- 



CHESTNUT HILL. 



r^ 



/ — BY- 



Rev. S. F. H[OTCH:K:I]^^, ]vr.^., 

w 

Author of The Mornings of the Bible, ete. 




p. W. ZIEGLER & CO., Publishers, 

No. 720 Chestnut Street, 

Philadelphia, Pa. 

1889. 






Copyright, By Rkv. S. F. HOTCHKIN, 1889. 



THIS BDnK IS 

RESPECTFULLY EEEICATEE 

Td my FriBnd, 

H, H, HDUSTDN, 

"HZ"HD HfiS HDNE SD MUCH TO MAKE 

Ancient G-erinantDAA/n Madern G-Grmantcwn, 



This volume is an attempt to preserve the history of a delightful suburb 
of a pleasant city ; and to increase the interest in those who have dwelt in the 
houses, and walked in the streets of Germantown in former days. 

The lives of our fellow men here briefly recorded show that history is 
philosophy teaching by example ; and may the Christian work, so often noted 
in these pages, encourage efforts to hand down religion and learning to those 
who are to dwell in Germantown in future years. 

The author gladly acknowledges the constant kind courtesy of Henry W. 
Raymond, in furthering his work, as all the articles of the series appeared in 
the Germantown Telegraph, edited by him, and his interest in local history 
stimulated the endeavor to disseminate information on the subject. 



List of Illustrations. 



NO. 

* 1. 

2. 

* 3. 
4. 

* 5. 

* 6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 

*10. 
*11. 

* 12. 
*13. 
*14. 
*15. 
*16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 
*23. 

24. 
*25. 
*26. 

27. 
*28. 

29. 

30. 

31. 



Seal of Germantown, .... 

Green's House, 

The Wister House, Main and Price Streets, 

Stenton, former Residence of James Logan, 

Loudon, Residence of Mrs. Anna A. Logan, 

Royal's House, . . , . . 

Fishers Lane and Germantown Avenue, 

On the Road above Fishers Lane, 

Wister Homestead, 

Roberts Meadow, . 

Fleclcenstein's House, 

The White Cottage, 

Ye Conyngham House, 

The Friends' Meeting House, 

The Deshler- Washington-Morris House 

Main and Manheim, 

The Germantown Academy, 

Shoemaker's First Farm, 

St. Luke's Church, . 

Chapel of Market Square Presbj^terian Church 

Market Square Presbyterian Church 

Market Square, .... 

The Old Ironsides, 

Matthias W. Baldwin, 

Main Street from School Lane, 

Main and Chelten Avenue, ■. 

First Presbyterian Church, 

Shoemakers House, 

Residence of Mahlon Bryan, . 

The Young Men's Christian Association 

E. H. Butler's Residence, 

The Morris-Littell House, 



PAGE. 

Frontispiece. 
2 
12 
20 
26 
30 
34 
38 
42 
46 
50 
54 
58 
62 
66 
70 
72 
76 
80 
84 
86 
90 
96 
98 
102 
106 
114 
122 
130 
138 
142 
144 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

NO. 

33. "Wyck", . . . . 

34. Friends' Free Library, . 

35. The Daniel Pastorius Mansion, 

36. The Mennonite Church, 

37. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, . 

38. Christ Church, 

39. The Eodney House, 

40. The Chew House, ' . 

41. The Second Baptist Church, . 

42. Carlton, 

43. John F. Watson, . 

44. Keyser Coat of Arms, 

45. The Channon House, 

46. Samuel Keyser, 

47. Calvary Episcopal Church, 

48. Devonshire Place, . 

49. National Bank of Germantown, 

50. Saving F\ind, .... 

51. Mutual Fire Insurance Building, 

52. Scene on the Wissahickon, 

53. Grace Church, . . 

54. Mount Airy Presbyterian Church, 

55. Mount Airy College, 

56. Residence of James Gowen, . 

57. The Gowen Homestead, . 

58. Wissahickon Inn, . 

59. Druim Moir, .... 

60. Druim Moir, .... 

61. St. Martin-in-the-Fields, . 

62. Home for Consumptives, 

63. Rev. Samuel Durborow, . 

64. St. Paul's Church, . 

65. " Graystock " Country-Seat of George C. Thomas, 

66. Residence of Colonel George H. North, 

67. Norwood Hall, .... 

68. " Stonecliffe, " Residence of Mrs. Charles Taylor, 

69. " The Evergreens, " Residence of Mrs. Thomas Potter, 

70. " The Anglecot," Residence of Charles A. Potter, 

71. Residence of William Potter, .... 

72. " Edgcumbe, " Residence of Charles B. Dunn, 

73. Residence of A. M. Collins, .... 

74. " Rauhala, " Residence of A. Warren Kelsey, 

75. " Westleigh, " Residence of Hon. Richard Vaux, 

76. " Roslyn Heights, " 



PAGE. 

. 148 

. 150 

. 152 

. 156 

. 160 

. 164 

. 180 

. 192 

. 214 

. 220 

. 244 

. 266 

. 268 

. 272 

. 276 

. 296 

. 336 

. 338 

. 340 

. 846 

. 354 

. 356 

. 362 

. 388 

. 390 

. 400 

. 420 

. 422 

. 425 

. 438 

. 440 

. 444 

. 450 

. 452 

. 458 

. 464 

. 472 

. 480 

. 484 

. 488 

. 492 

. 498 

. 508 

. 514 



LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. 

J^'O. PAGK. 

77. Churcliill Hall 528 

78. Franklin School, 534 

79. Residence of G. Ralston Ay ers and S. Huckel, .... 536 

* All the illustrations marked with an asterisk are inserted by the kind permisbion of Frederick D. 
Stone, editor of" The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography," in which they appeared in connec- 
tion with Townsend Ward's articles. Mr. H. W. Raymond, editor of the Gkrmantow.v Telegraph, was 
instrumental in introducing them into that paper. 



Ancient and Modern Germantown. 



" Hail to posterity ! 
Hail future men of Germanopolis ! 

Let the young generations yet to be 

Look kindly upon this. 
Think how your fathers left their native land, — 

Dear German land ! O sacred hearths and homes !! 

And where the wild beast roams 

In patience planned 
New forest homes beyond the mighty sea, 

There undisturbed and free 

To live as brothers of one family." 

From the Latin of F. D. Pastorius — Whitlier's translation. 

Townsend Ward furnished eight most interesting articles on "The German- 
town Road and Its Associations " for the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and 
Biography, beginning with No. 1 of Vol. V, A. D. 1881, and ending in No. 4 
of Vol. VI, A. D. 1882. He then stopped to solicit funds for the purchase of 
the new Historical Society rooms, formerly General Patterson's house, at the 
southwest corner of Thirteenth and Locust streets. His lamented death has 
made a final pause where he expected to make but a temporary one. 

Mr. Ward had agreed with the editor of the Germantown Telegraph, to 
continue the work in the columns of his paper, by request of the editor. It 
has fallen to the lot of the present writer to take up the task. He will receive 
some aid from the manuscripts of the late author, kindly placed in his hands 
by the courtesy of Frederick D. Stone, Librarian of the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Ward left a mass of notes on various topics, which show him to have 
been an indefatigable, as well as a wise, student of local history. In traveling 
he would pick up bits of information and jot them down, and his correspond- 
ence shows how he faithfully searched into details and was ready to correct 
errors. It also displays the great esteem in which he was held by persons of 
high station in the community. It is a source of much regret that the facile 
pen which lovingly described Second street and Darby road and Germantown 
road can work no more, and it would be desirable to print much of what he 
left in manuscript. 

It now remains to do what the Germantown weavers described in the articles 
named would have done — that is, take up the broken thread and unite it and 

(9) 



10 GERMANTOWN. 

drive the loom ahead again. While young and old delight to read histories 
of Greece and Rome, why should they not look into the history of their own 
towns ? The great English scholar, Lightfoot, was once writing on Jerusalem 
and had occasion to visit a piece of ground, in the sale of which he was inter- 
ested, a mile or so from his own house, and could not locate the spot. While 
we look into that which is distant, let us not neglect what is near. On one of 
Ward's manuscript papers he has written that as Dr. Johnston said that the 
true history of a broom-stick would be interesting, much more " the history of 
a house with its various occupants, often similar, but often nevertheless, bring- 
ing together strange and startling juxtapositions." 

In A. D. 1698, Gabriel Thomas's account of Philadelphia and the Province 
was printed in London. It reaches up to 1696. He resided here about fifteen 
years. Watson quotes the work in his Annals, Vol. I, p. 66, etc. He thus 
describes early Germantown : "All sorts of very good paper are made in the 
Germantown, as also very fine German linen, such as no person of quality 
need be ashamed to wear ; and in several places they make very good druggets, 
crapes, camblets and serges, besides other woolen cloathes, the manufacture of 
all which daily improves ; and in most parts of the country there are many and 
spacious buildings, which several of the gentrj'^ have erected for their country 
houses " (p. 72). 

If the reader would look into the history of the settlement of Germantown, 
he can do so by examining Sam. W. Pennypacker's Historical and Biograph- 
ical Sketches, published by R. A. Tripple, of Philadelphia. The interesting 
account in that volume is reprinted from the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, 
Vol. IV, p. 1, etc. The drawing of lots for locations took place in the cave of 
Pastorius, in Philadelphia, October, A. D. 1683. 

North of Germantown proper lay Krisheim, Crefeld and Sommerhausen, 
perpetuating the names of the dear fatherland, to which the hearts of the 
settlers turned. Whittier's touch in " The Pennsylvania Pilgrim " of Up den 
Graflf conversing with Pastorius of former days by the firelight is a natural 
one. Sommerhausen was the name of Pastorius's birthplace. The families of 
the first settlers, in addition to the agent of the Frankfort Land Company, 
Francis Daniel Pastorius, were as follows: — Dirck, Hermann and Abraham 
Up den Graff (now written Updegraff and Updegrove), three brothers from 
Crefeld, and Tones Kunders (that is, Dennis Conrad), from the same place; 
Lenart Arets, Reynier Tyson, Willem Streypers, Jan (English, John) Lensen, 
Peter Keurlis, Jan Seimens, Johannes (English, John) Bleikers, Abraham 
Tunes and Jan Lucken (now Lukens). These fourteen families, with their 
wives, children and servants, were the first inhabitants of Germantown, which 
was properly named as a German settlement. 

Huts and caves were made as places of abode. There were fifty-five lots of 
fifty acres each on both sides of the Main street. — Pennypacker's Sketches, pp. 
207-8. Germantown was sometimes styled Germanopolis by Pastorius. 



GERMANTOWN. 11 

Pennypacker regrets that the early history of the pious and faithful Germans 
lacked chroniclers, while the New England settlers had many. New England 
has abounded in authors from Cotton Mather and Joel Barlow to Mrs. Stowe, 
and naturally they have painted their ancestors, while Mrs. Hemans has given 
an English idea of the Pilgrim Fathers, and their governmental struggles 
made them famous. Let them have all due credit, but the noble Church of 
England Virginia Colony, with its good Parson Hunt, and the Friends and 
Mennonites and Moravians, of Pennsylvania, with Penn and Pastorius and 
Zinzendorf, must not be forgotten. 

It has been said that in peaceful times there is no history, and the Germans 
and Friends lived such quiet and peaceful lives that little happened to strike 
the world or produce writings until the battle of Germantown shook their 
repose. They were as the man whom Saxe humorously describes, whose life 
ran so even that his neighbors thought him very odd. In later years, before 
Bryn Mawr and its surburban neighboring villages were known, Germantown 
was the great suburb of Philadelphia. Now the business of the Main street is 
driving the new country seats to the side lanes which have been opened on 
both sides of the Main avenue, and the suburb is really a city in itself; event- 
ually the lanes may also feel the push of business as the busy hive of city life 
swarms upon them. Still even Main street, or Germantown road, has not lost 
its country aspect, though it has a patched appearance as new and old strike 
each other. As one enters Germantown from the city he is struck with a 
number of cameos set in the picture-frame of the street. The pretty country 
house of the Logans, at Loudon, with its rustic surroundings, and adjoining 
rural houses on the upper side forms a pleasant scene, while the Wakefield 
Presbyterian church and the Adamson residence grace the opposite side of the 
avenue. The Lower and Upper Burying Grounds, with the Mennonite grave- 
yard, and the massive cross in the yard of Trinity Lutheran church to the 
memory of Henrj' Goodman and wife are fit reminders of the peaceful dead 
in Christ, and may they ever remain, like Trinity churchyard in New York, 
and Christ churchyard, Philadelphia, to teach the thoughtful a lesson of the 
end of life. As Bonar's lines express it, they may be a comfort to the patient 
toiler as he passes them in his daily walk : 

" Rest for the toiling hand, 

Rest for the thought-worn brow, 
Rest for the weary way-sore feet, 

Rest from all labor now. 

Re'=t for the fevered brain, 

Rest for the throbbing eye, 
Thro' these parched lips of thine no more 

Shall pass the moan or sigh." 

St. Luke's Episcopal church and Parish building form a pretty view from 
the street, which will be much finer when the proposed tower is built. By the 



12 GERMANTOWN. 

yide of the church and in its rear repose those who loved its holy worship. 
The Roman Catholic dome meets us at Price street, and St. Stephen's Methodist 
church is an object of attraction. 

The Heur3' and Butler and Duval properties, and Miss Haines's antique 
home, with the Chew mansion, and Mrs. Norton Johnson's house and grounds, 
at Upsal, must not be forgotten. 

THE JOHN WISTER HOUSE. 

One of these cameos is the John Wister estate, just north of Chelten avenue, 
on the west side of the street. Here Town send Ward closed his printed 
account, and here we take up the thread of the narrative. 

Germantown road was the backbone of the ancient village. Matthias Zim- 
merman's plan of Germantown was copied by Christian Lehman, and recopied 
by his grandson, Joseph, for his own father, Benjamin Lehman. This plan is 
invaluable in these researches, and it may be seen at the Pennsylvania His- 
torical Society rooms. 

The traveler is now requested to turn his back on the sunny south and look 
toward the frigid north, while on his right lies the rosy east and on his left the 
golden west, and start on his observant journey. We find ourselves on Section 
14 of the plan. In this vicinity Peter Shoemaker, Sr., originally owned two 
and a half fifty acre lots. Later on Melchior Meng, Kreyter, Bockius, Kurtz 
and Peter Smith are the owners of two and a half lots running to "Rittenhouse 
Mill road." 

Ward had treated of Melchior Meng, and closed his last article in the Maga- 
zine with a few words on the AVister place, while a fine picture of the mansion 
faced his final page. His manuscript states that James Matthews built the 
house about 1803, and adds : " He was of the firm of Mcx4.11ister & Matthews, 
whipmakers. He also built the spring-house on the lawn, put a sun dial and 
l^ost, and planted a willow switch alongside, which, however, soon grew so 
large that its shade obscured the dial." In one of his articles he refers to the 
fact that Peter Kalm, the Swedish traveler, noticed the picturesque and useful 
spring-houses of Pennsylvania in 1748. He visited Germantown, however, 
long before the building of this house. 

In Delaware and Chester counties, the spring-house is indeed a pretty feature, 
and a tavern near Gwynedd is called " The Spring-house ; " but it looks quaint 
to see one in a busy street, and it appears lonesome, like a ship on dry land. 
Still it is well that it remains as a touch of coiintry life, and the willow over 
it may be a descendant of that first willow twig which Dr. Franklin gave to 
Deborah Norris, afterwards Deborah Logan. A little stream runs through the 
lawn. As the stream and spring-house occupy the front of the grounds the 
railing is unbroken by a drive, and the entrance is at the side. 'J'his helps the 
effect in leaving an unobstructed country grass plot. 

By the upper side of the carriage way a board walk leads alongside a hedge 
to the mansion which lies some distance back from the street. The sun dial 



GERMANTOWN. 15 

still does duty in front of the main door of the house on the lawn. It is a 
pleasant relic of former daj's and old time customs. It has also its lesson of 
content, as it marks the shining hours and skips the clouldy ones, in accord 
with the insicription once placed on such an object, " I mark only the hours 
that shine." It rests sweet! }^ at night. It also tells of the vast importance of 
time. A sun dial at the English University of Oxford has the Latin legend 
"Horae p&i'eunt et imputantur." "The hours perish and are laid to account." 
The house is of stone, two stories high, with basement. The stone shows in 
tlie front of the basement, but is whitened in the upper stories. A flight of 
stone steps leads to the front door. This door has a carved pillar on each side 
and is surrounded with an ornamented frame of woodwork, terminating in a 
square finish above, which, however, has an arched window underneath it. 
The roof is cut off at both ends so that the ridge is shortened. A triangular 
front containing a semi-circular window is also inserted in the roof above three 
of the front windows, while a dormer window projects on each side of it. Two 
high chimneys complete the variety. These old houses, while they lack the 
conveniences of modern ones, have an old-fashioned English dignity which is 
attractive and deserves to be preserved bj' pen and pencil, before the red brick 
dwellings drive them awaj'. Perhaps a new fashion will yet reproduce them. 
There is a fine old hall which contains an antique upright clock, which maj' 
rival the sun-dial in duty, and works more constantly. The mansion boasts 
another ancient clock in a room adjoining the hall. One of these was made 
b}' the clock -maker, Augustine Neiser, spoken of by Ward. It is a chiming 
clock. The clock belonged to John Wister, the elder, the great-great grand- 
father of the author of the following lines. It was made by Augustine Neiser, 
about the year 1735, probably in Germany, for such excellent work could 
scarcely have been done at that early date in this country. Neiser emigrated to 
America, and was the first Germantown clock-maker. In the distribution of 
the reliquix of Vernon, after the death of Miss Ann Wister, the clock came 
into the possession of her nephew, the one who has commemorated it so 
feelingly. 

THE VERNON CLOCK. 



Tick, tock ! tick, tock ! a strange and solemn sound ! 

Tick, tock ! tick, tock ! a tone akin to things beneath the ground. 
To things beneath the ground which are to be, 

To things beneath the ground which are no more, 
A murmur of the great engulfing sea, 

Which still grows clearer as we near the shore. 

Tick, tock! tick, tock! the pendulum swings heavily and slow, 

The rustle of Time's garments, and the chime, 
As stealthily the slender fingers climb. 

Is but his footfall. As the quarters go, 
They speak the quarters of our lives with power, 

And hint of him who comes to strike the hour. 



16 GERMANTOWN. 

Even as a merchant counts us out our gold, 

Which we are free to spend in good or ill, 
So the old clock, with neutral mien and cold. 

Counts us the moments we may waste at will. 

Kind friends, I cannot waste them as of yore, 

The rush and fire and haste have passed away ; 
Ye took my gladness when ye went before — 

Could ye not leave it for my little day ? 
Nor can I freely spend them all alone, 

I can but sit, as nears the mid of night, 
And question the old clock of hours flown. 

And ask of scenes that passed beneath his sight. 

Kind friends, the clock beheld ydu one and all. 

First those of old, and then us gathered there, 
Within your beautiful and stately hall, 

And still ticks on while you are less than air. 

It saw the rush and revelry and glare. 

And hurrying feet, 

And eyes that meet. 
And lips that long to kiss, half shy, half bold. 

Inscrutable, 

Immutable, 

Slow ringing. 

Still swinging. 
It ticked each hush as they lay lifeless there, 
It saw us bend o'er the last forehead cold ; 

Then saw the walls stripped, tenantless and bare. 

Tick, tock ! tick, lock ! a strange and Solemn tone — 

An echo of the voices of the blest, 
A sound which bears me on to those at rest, 

Who for an hour have left me here alone. 
A sound both grim and grand, both stern and free, 

The whisper of the shell to time's eternal sea. 
March igth, i88g. Algernon Sydney Logan. 

The hall clock came from Edward Jones, of Merion, having a date of the 
year 1708 upon it. Edward Jones was the great-great grandfather of the 
Wister ladies. The former has been handed down from John Wister, the great 
grandfather of the present occupants of the house. 

A spiral stairway, adorned with fine wood carving, leads from the hall to the 
top of the house. Indeed, this carved wood-work is one of the main features 
of the mansion. It is displayed on the ancient parlor mantel in figures and 
adorns the outside of the windows, even those in front of the attic, which pro- 
ject from the roof; the hall doors are tastefully carved. In the parlor the 
front windows are recessed and paneled below the glass. The fine carved 
mantels are continued through the house. On one of the first floor mantels 
two pillars are carved on each side, while on the other but one appears on each 
side. A wood fire-place is still in use. The old furniture in the parlor and 
the carved wood-work lose their interest as one gazes at a beautiful painting 



GERMANTOWN. 17 

by Gilbert Stuart. It is a likeness of Miss Nancy Pennington, aunt of the 
Misses Wister, to whom the mansion belongs. The flesh color seems as bright 
and the appearance as life-like as if the artist had finished his work yesterday. 
The lovely lady died at twenty years of age, and the picture is supposed to 
represent her at the age of eighteen. An excellent portrait of Governor John 
Dickinson also hangs in the parlor. 

A back hall runs through the house cross-wise, a section of which appears 
to be a later addition. Some of the partitions are of stone, solidly built, while 
the rear building is of stone, plastei'ed. An extensive lawn behind the house, 
with a grass field adjoining, makes the place look like a quiet country re- 
treat. On the lower side is the Sunday-school building of Chelten Avenue 
Presbyterian Church, while on the upper side, the rear of the Evangelical 
Church and graveyard on Rittenhouse street bound a part of this lawn, while 
the green-house and the barn complete the scene. The rear and upper view of 
the mansion is quaint, as the angles and chimneys become more prominent in 
that direction. There is a deep ravine on the upper side which has a wild 
look, near a busy throughfare. This sometimes contains a stream of water, 
but is drj' in summer, as the gardener informs me. Dogwood trees make their 
home in it. A conservatory joins the mansion on the lower side, while the an- 
cient trees and ample grounds give a very rural appearance both in the front , 
and the rear. 

The ground slopes from the house toward the street. The front wall of the 
house is beautified by the ivy and Virginia creeper which cling lovingly to it, 
and brighten the picture. There are double doors in the front, and each door 
contains its own brass knocker, so, like twins, they both stand side by side. 
John Wister, Senior, named this place Vernon in honor of Washington's home, 
Mount Vernon. Vernon Hall near by perpetuates the name. 

Ward notes that the elder John Wister was never in the railway cars. It 
should be added that they ran to Philadelphia in 1832, and he lived until 
1862. He never visited New York. His son, John Wister, died January 23, 
1883. The following admirable lines were written on the occasion, by his 
nephew, Algernon Sydney Logan, great-grandson, by the by, of John Dickin- 
son, whose portrait hangs in the same parlor as that of Miss Nancy Penning- 
ton at Vernon : — 

Slow came the morning, slow, with features pale, 

White robed, close muffled in a misty veil. 

She seemed to feel that Death was at her side, 

And thus like him all stealthily to glide. 

And emulate his footfall and his hue. 

She came ; but yet unmarked of one who knew 

Fair Nature in her subtlest changing mood. 

Beloved companion of his solitude, 

Who could predict the aspects of her face, 

For whom her smiles and frowns had equal grace — 

She came unmarked — he slept, and slept for aye. 

What lesser sleep than an Eternity. 



18 GERMANTOWN. 

Could balance that unrest beyond control, 

The life-long inner combat of a soul 

Born for the whirlwind, yet becalmed through life ? 

Cast in mad times of tumult and of strife. 

Of popular uprisings and ol rage, 

Strong in the storm within him, to assuage 

The tempest and to rule a surging sea. 

Of uncouth men had been his destiny. 

His mighty strength, his ready eloquence. 

His light and feathery fancy, solid sense. 

His tender heart (to him was childhood dear). 

His courage never tarnished by a fear. 

In other times and scenes had made his name 

Known of his kind, perchance of lasting fame. 

But now obscure, as glad of rest, he sleeps. 

And one who loved him well in silence weeps. 

Up to the dizzy verge of death we climb. 

And peer into the dark abysm of Time, 

Which has engulphed this strong Reality — 

Then sighing journey on, and pondering sigh. 

John Wister Sr.'s two daughters now dwell in the paternal mansion, the 
number of which on the Main Street is 4916. 

To complete this sketch I add a notice of John Wister, Sr., kindly placed in 
my hands. It is also fitting to say that Mr. Charles J. Wister has supervised 
this article, and it is deeined a favor to have had the aid of a scholar so well 
versed in the history of Germantown. 

Mr. John Wister was born iu Philadelphia in the Revolutionarj' days of 
1776, and was the son of Daniel Wister of this city. He was a birthright mem- 
ber of the Society of Friends and brought up under the influence of their 
principles. He early entered into mercantile life in the counting-house of his 
Uncle, William Wister, and after his death continued the business in partner- 
ship with his brother Charles, under the title of John and Charles Wister. 
About the year 1812 Mi:. Wister purchased the place known as Vernon, in 
Germantown, where he resided the remainder of his life. He was the head of 
a large, influential and wealthy family and his name and position was as famil- 
iar to the community iu which he lived, though living in the closest retire- 
ment, as if his life had been the most ostentatious and jjrominent. He retired 
from a brief mercantile career, with a large fortune, to Germantown where he 
found those enjoyments at his own fireside which few so highly appreciated 
and with which few have been favored to the same extent. His home was his 
paradise — and all were made happy who came within his gates. He affected 
no display. There was not a grain of factitious pride in his nature. He pos- 
sessed a firm and manly will, and had a decided opinion on all questions, but 
in it all there was an ever-flowing spring of geniality, extremely pleasing and 
at once putting every one at ease. If the acts of Mr. Wister are to be received 
as the best evidence of character, then there was no better Christian than he. 
Indeed his whole life was a beautiful model for example. To an austere up- 



GERMANTOWN. 19 

rightness he added an unchangeable consistency and a religious affluence that 
pervaded his well-balanced mind and illustrated his daily practices. No char- 
ity passed under his eyes unassisted, and no one deserving pity left him empty- 
handed. Thus while he shut himself up technically from society and the 
world, no one fulfilled his allotted duty more studiously, more usefully, and 
more in accordance with the truest dictates of a discriminating wisdom and 
humanity. His memory requires no eulogium at the hands of any one. Suffi- 
cient be it to say that no man has passed through this life more scatheless, .so 
entirely unaffected by its worldliness and heresies, or when laid in the recep- 
tacle of all the living, was more devotedly regretted, than John Wister. He 
died on Wednesday, Dec. 10th, 1862, in the eighty -seventh year of his age. 

TOWNSEND WARD'S NOTES. 

In order to make the series more complete, this narrative will now condense 
Townsend Ward's interesting articles on the Germantown road in the Penn- 
sylvania Magazine of History and Biography, beginning with No, 1 of Vol. 5, 
A. D. 1881, and ending with No. 4 of Vol. 6, A. D. 1882. This was a part of 
Mr. Ward's proposed plan with regard to the Telegraph articles. The pres- 
ent writer will use his own words for the most part. If quotation marks are 
introduced they may be understood as embracing Mr. Ward's language, unless 
it is otherwise stated. 

In entering Germantown from Philadelphia the first settlers are supposed 
to have used an Indian path. Watson says that A. Cook told Jacob Keyser 
that he could remember Germantown street as an Indian footpath through 
laurel bushes. Now Second Street and Germantown avenue may be considered 
as a fairly built up street and road for thirteen miles to Chestnut Hill, being 
" one of the greatest avenues of any city in the world." 

In leaving the city the old Norris estate at Fair Hill is passed, and the Fox 
Chase Tavern, no longer an inn, near the connecting Railroad, and the Rising 
Sun Inn, and Nicetown, named from the Nice family. In Nicetown the 
avenue passes tlie old residence of Dr. Joseph Martin, brother of Mrs McKee, 
of Germantown, and of Prosper D. Martin and Mrs. Giles Dallet, of Philadel- 
phia. He was a man of note. As I treated of Stenton in the Telegraph of 
July 8th, the place will be passed by, except to say that the McClellan hospi- 
tal, during the war, was on part of the estate. 

The account of Louis Clapier, who owned Fern Hill, west of Wayne station, 
is interesting. When a poor woman's house was burned, he said, "Ah! gen- 
tlemen, I pity her $50, how much do you?" He led nine others to give the 
same amount. 

On a map of 1750 two houses near here were marked Neglee and Dewalden, 
from the Dewald family. 

We now pass under the railroad bridge at Wayne station and follow 
Germantown avenue up Neglee's hill, named, I presume, from the Neglee 
family just mentioned. General Henry M. Neglee is of this connection. The 



20 GERMANTOWN. 

southern boundary of Germantown crosses Germantown avenue almost exactly 
at the railway bridge at Wayne Junction. 

On the left Hes Thones Kunder's " Side Lot, No. 2," of the ancient division. 
The name Kunder is now Conrad. Rev. Thomas K. Conrad, D. D., the first 
rector of Calvary church, Manheira street, is his descendant, as well as the 
broker of that name in Walnut street. Rev. Dr. Conrad's uncle, Robert T. 
Conrad, was the first Mayor of Philadelphia after the consolidation. 

Sometimes the early travelers avoided the steep Neglee's hill by passing 
along about where Wayne street is now. In 1773 the Pennsylvania Packet 
records the highway robbery of Mr. John Lukens on this hill on a July even- 
ing. He was obliged to deliver his watch. 

Before going further, let it be noted that Francis Daniel Pastorius, the agent 
of the Frankfort Land Company, in 1683 purchased 5700 acres of laud, 
which was laid out by the Survej'or-General in 1684. The patent of 1689 
begins its descriptions of the township thus : " Beginning at a corner hicquerie 
tree." William Penn, in the Germantown charter, August 12th, 1689, styles 
himself the " Proprietor of Pennsylvania in America under the Imperial crown 
of Great Britain." 

Stenton avenue, formerly the Township line road, is the exact place of passing 
the southern boundary of Germantown. AVhen LaFayette visited Chew's 
house, fifty years after the battle, an escort met him here. Ward here tells 
Dr. William H. Denny's story of LaFayette being introduced to men in the 
towns on the Ohio river, and, asking each man if he were married, if the reply 
was " Yes," the General would say, " Happy fellow," if " No," he would exclaim. 
" Lucky dog." 

Ascending Neglee's hill, on the left, that is, the west side of the avenue, stands 
the old mansion with a Grecian portico styled Loudoun. It is the property of 
the Logan family. The number of the house is 4356. It was built at the end 
of the eighteenth century by Thomas Armat for his only child, Thomas Wright 
Armat, for a summer residence. Thomas Armat was from Dale-Head Hall, 
Cumberland, England. He settled in Loudoun county, Va. There his son 
was born in 1776. He became a merchant in Philadelphia, and during the 
yellow-fever removed to Germantown. He was a philanthropist and a religious 
man. He donated the ground on which St. Luke's Episcopal church stands, 
and assisted in building it. He promoted Sunday schools. He was one of the 
first to give plans for using coal for heating. — See Poulson's Daily Advertiser, 
February 15th, 1819. He got a patent for an improvement in hay scales. The 
old scales were opposite his house, now No. 4788, Dr. Ashmead's residence. 
Thomas Wright Armat died young. 



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GERMANTOWN. 21 

The author inserts the following article, among these notes, which he had 
written for the Telegraph before this series began. 

JAMES LOGAN AND HIS COUNTRY SEAT. 



SONNET TO STENTON. 



[By our beloved and Honored Friend, Deborah Logan. Written in 1815, 
for her affectionate relatives, W. Logan and Sarah L. Fisher.] 

" My peaceful home ! amidst whose dark green shades 
And sylvan scenes my waning life is spent, 
Nor without blessings and desired content ! 
Again the spring illumes thy verdant glades, 
And rose-crowned Flora calls the JEonma maids 
To grace with songs her revels, and prevent, 
By charmed spells, the nipping blasts which, bent 
From Eurus or the stormy North pervades 
Her treasures — still 'tis mine among thy groves 
Musing to rove, enamor'd of the fame 
Of him who reared these walls, whose classic lore 
For science brightly blazed, and left his name 
Indelible — by honor, too, approved. 
And virtue cherished by the Muses' flame." 

A house like Stenton, which is supposed to have been finished in A. D. 1728, 
is an American antiquity, though it may not rival a castle on the Rhine, nor an 
English baronial mansion, in age. It seems hard to disturb such retreats, and 
the locomotives on the two railroads which pass Wayne Junction ought to be 
ashamed of themselves for shrieking loudly in a place where nothing more 
modern than a coach should be allowed. The cricket ground has a right 
there, as being a country sport. 

As we draw near Stenton, James Logan's ancient mansion, we are struck 
with the quiet and dignified simplicity of the place, which was consonant with 
the character of its master. It was not an attempt at grandeur, but an effort 
to produce a spacious and comfortable residence, which should attract rather 
than awe the beholder. The building is two stories in height, with high 
attics, having dormer windows. The material of its construction is brick, 
said to have been burned in the neighborhood. The front door has its long 
glass windows at the sides to enhance its dignity, after the fashion of the day. 
The semi-circular stones which form the doorstep have done long service. On 
entering, the large hall greets one with a hearty welcome. Those old halls 
were a pleasant feature in ancient dwellings, and help to keep up the primi- 
tive idea of " the hall " in song and story, even if its capacity has somewhat 
diminished. The immense old key of the hall door is a curiosity in itself, and 
may rank with the key of the Bastile at Mount Vernon, though it has a pleas- 
anter history. A large wooden bar also guards the door. On the first floor 
there are two parlors, one on either side of the hall. The antique closets in 



22 GERMANTOWN. 

one of these rooms with rounded backs, built into the wall, are worthy of 
notice. One of them has a strange shell-like formation for its top, and they 
probably served to display the fine table ware of the mistress of the house. 
A picture of one of them may be seen in the book, " A Sylvan City " (p. 194). 
That picture also displays some of the ancient potter^', and one of the fire- 
l^laces. It states that Stenton was considered "a palace in its day" (p. 176). 
The same volume speaks of the dinners and suppers at Stenton, which have 
left a record of " white satin petticoats worked in flowers, pearl satin gowns, 
or peach colored satin cloaks ; the white necks were covered with delicate lawn, 
and they wore gold chains, and seals engraven with their arms." 

Let us again look around the rooms where these gay scenes occurred. The 
old fireplaces are of much interest, and where the hand of vandalism has 
spared the fine old Scriptural paintings on the tiles one is reminded how Dr. 
Doddridge learned his early religious lessons by his good mother's instructions 
based on such pictures. One of the fireplaces has a marble hearth and a fine 
marble facing. 

The large amount of well-preserved wood-work in the interior of these old 
dwellings is remarkable. There is much wainscoting, and a wooden cornice 
and old inside wooden shutters with quaint openings for light cut out of the 
upper portion, and some queer fancy wood-work in the rear hall, while the 
builder thought it needful to cut even the attic closet doors with ornamental 
openings. The hands that did this work have lost their cunning, but the 
work abides. 

The long and narrow windows, with their small panes, have beneath them 
cosy window seats, which in summer would afibrd a pleasant place to catch 
the cool air and view the pretty lawn and fine trees in front of the house. 
The wood of the mansion is said to have been brought from England. 

In the rear of the two parlors there are two other rooms of somewhat simi- 
lar style. Between the front and back hall is a door with a fine arch. In a 
passage-way, on the first floor, was an opening in the woodwork, apparently 
for escape in danger, and I noticed in the attic rooms doors leading into a 
cubby-hole. This passage is supposed to run around the upper part of the 
house just under the roof and communicate below, as there was an under- 
ground communication to the barn from the house, and it is thought also an 
other to the vault in the family graveyard. These passages were escapes in 
danger. At the Potts house, in Valley Forge, there were secret doors for 
Washington to escape in sudden dangers. There was a trap-door in the floor 
of one of the rear rooms on the first story which communicated with the cellar, 
apparently for the same purpose, for we can hardly think of the ancient idea 
of raising tables covered with food from one story to another here. We may 
imagine in sudden surprises that the Stenton family used these retreats, 
though they stood very well with the Indians. There is a fine old stairway, 
and tradition avers that the Indians used to sleep on these stairs at night. 



GERMANTOWN. 23 

The Indian chief, Wingohocking, loved James Logan, and asked him to 
change names with him. Logan replied that the Indian might have his 
name, but that, instead of accepting the Indian's, he would give it to the creek 
which ran through the estate; so that became Wingohocking creek, though it 
was often called Logan's run. This is the chief whose name designates the 
Logan House, Altoona, and whom William Wirt uses to illustrate Indian 
oratory. 

In the second story of Stenton, two rooms have been made of what was once 
a banqueting hall, extending the length of the house, but it became a place 
for feasting the mind when James Logan made it his librarj^, and here were 
those books in Greek and Latin and other languages which now adorn the 
shelves of that literary palace, the Ridgway Library. 

Outbuildings extend to the rear of the mansion. These were the servants' 
quarters. They adjoin the main building. There are two old-fashioned 
kitchens and a greenhouse beyond them. The outbuilding is a story and a half 
high and is prolonged by the addition of an extension. The outbuilding is of 
stone and its -wall is adorned with pigeon houses, where the busy birds are 
carrying on their summer work with joy, careless of the past generations of 
men who have dwelt there. 

The family graveyard lies on a pretty hillside near bj^, well walled in, and 
furnished with an ancient vault. It is a sweet spot and a fitting resting place 
for Deborah Logan and her relatives. Here assembled in February, A. D. 
1839, that mourning throng of friends who accompanied the body of Deborah 
Logan to its resting place. 

The means of following out the Penn and Logan history, which is the 
foundation of Pennsylvania history, have been largely afforded by the patient 
toil of years of this devoted intellectual woman, who is praised by her friend 
Watson, the annalist. She found the letters between William Penn and James 
Logan, with other epistles, neglected, mouldy and torn in an attic at Stenton 
and covered thousands of pages with her copies of them, adding scholarlj^ 
notes. Her relations with the families of early settlers gave her much informa- 
tion, which she well knew how to use to good effect, and a natural enthusiasm 
encouraged her in her efforts. Few persons have done so much for American 
history as this most estimable ladj^ It was her custom to give the early 
morning to her task of copying and annotating, and she doubtless enjoyed the 
historic panorama which then passed before the eye of her mind. One of her 
poems is entitled, " The Hour of Prime." 

Mrs. Deborah Logan was the granddaughter of William Penn's special 
friend and co-worker, Isaac Norris, Sr., whose letters appear in the Penn and 
Logan Correspondence, as he was a correspondent of James Logan. He was 
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania at the time of his death. He died at the Friends' 
Meeting House, in Germantown, and his bod}'- was carried to Stenton. where 
vain efforts were made to resuscitate it. Mrs. Logan was a pupil of Anthony 
Benezet, and, though full of glee, still her teacher, on leaving his place for a 



24 GERMANTOWN. 

time, would call " Norris " to preside over the young flock. Even in old age, 
young and old loved this bright, intelligent woman, and the mourning at her 
death was general. She heard the Declaration of Independence, read in the 
State House yard in Philadelphia, and entertained Washington at Stenton, and, 
with her husband, visited him at Mount Vernon. 

During the Revolution the important letters which were to present the 
ancient Pennsjdvanians to their descendants in their daily dress were near 
being lost. The British burned seventeen houses between Philadelphia and 
Germantown in retaliation for alleged aggressions from some of the houses. 
They ordered Stenton to be burned and two men came to burn it, and told the 
housekeeper, a colored woman, to take out her private property while they 
went to the barn for straw to set the house on fire. A British officer just then 
rode up, asking for deserters. The housekeeper, ^dth quick wit, replied that 
they had gone to the barn to hide in the straw. He cried : " Come out ! you 
rascals ! and run before me into camp ! " They protested and alleged their 
commissions, but the Logan house, with its important manuscripts, was saved. — 
Watson's Annals, Vol. II, p. 39, edition of 1857. The faithful colored woman 
is buried in the garden at Stenton. The old barn of stone still stands. 

Mrs. Deborah Logan wrote an account of James Logan, which is printed in 
the Penn and Logan Correspondence, but a more extensive history of him is 
found at the Historical Society rooms in a volume published by Charles 
Gilpin, in Bishopsgate street. Without, London, A. D. 1851. It is entitled 
" Memoirs of James Logan, a Distinguished Scholar and Christian Legislator, 
Founder of the Loganian Librarj^" etc. By William Armistead. As I find 
the author's family name mentioned among the early Friends in Pennsyl- 
vania, he may have an ancestral interest in this country. This sketch will com- 
bine the accounts of Mrs. Logan and Mr. Armistead, and those in the two vol- 
umes of the Penn and Logan Correspondence. 

The name Logan, like that of Washington, came from a locality. The chief 
Logan was Baron of Restalrig, and the family was connected with the most 
noble families in Scotland, and one of them married a daughter of Robert II, 
who granted him the lands Grugar, by a charter addressed " Militi dilecto 
fratri suo " — (To his well-beloved soldier brother). 

In 1329, when, in compliance with the dying request of Robert Bruce, an 
attempt was made to carry his heart to the Holy Sepulchre, " Sir Robert 
Logan and Sir Walter Logan were the chief associates of Sir James Douglas in 
that illustrious band which composed the flower of Scotch chivalry." 

The Logans fell under the walls of Granada, battling with the Moors, in at- 
tempting to rescue Lord Sinclair. The heart of Bruce was brought back to 
Scotland, and buried in the Monastery of Melrose. In 1400, Sir Robert Logan, 
Lord Admiral of Scotland, defeated an English fleet. 

James Logan was the son of Patrick and Isabel Logan and great-grandson 
to Sir Robert Logan, Baron of Restalrig. Isabel's maiden name was Hume. 
She was " of the Scotch family of Dundas and Panure." James was born in 



GERMANTOWN. 25 

Ireland, at Lurgan, A. D. 1684, but as his family were Scotch people, who had 
gone into Ireland after his father became a member of the Friends, he should 
be considered a Scotchman in early life, and after emigration a Scotch-Ameri- 
can. The father taught his son, whose strong mind developed early. Before 
he was thirteen years old he knew Latin and Greek and some Hebrew, and 
afterward became a good mathematician. He was apprenticed to a linen 
draper in London, but the Prince of Orange landed and war came on in 
Ireland before he was bound, and so he returned to his parents and. went with 
them to Edinburg, London and Bristol. At Bristol he taught and also studied 
Greek and Hebrew, French and Italian and some Spanish. 

In A. D. 1699, Penn offered James Logan a position as his secretary and he 
accepted it, though he had opposition to encounter, in the advice of friends, 
against the step. 

While Penn and Logan were three months at sea, in coming from England 
to America, they avoided the danger of j'ellow fever by the delay. It had 
been raging in Philadelphia, but ceased before their arrival. 

Logan's public life began early. When only about twenty-five years old he 
was in the close confidence of Penn and had received several important offices 
from him. 

In less than two years Penn returned to England, leaving his faithful secre- 
tary. He was Secretary of the Province, Commissioner of Property, President 
of Council and Chief Justice of Pennsjdvania. 

He married Sarah Read, whose sister was the wife of Israel Pemberton, Sr. 
A touch of family life occurs in Hannah Penn's sending Mrs. James Logan 
two bottles of " convulsion water" as an extraordinary medicine for her little 
girl. Logan had " a true helpmate, children not undutiful," as he wrote Simon 
Clement, an uncle of Hannah Penn. 

While Penn lived in this country during his second visit, James Logan, 
then a bachelor, resided in his family, and when Penn and his lady moved 
to the unfinished house at Pennsbury, on the Delaware, above Bristol, he re- 
mained at the town house, and so tlirections about family 'affairs are met with 
in the letters of the Penn and Logan Correspondence. 

Mrs. Deborah Logan calls James Logan Penn's " most able and upright 
secretary." Well did he deserve this description. The correspondence with 
William and Hannah Penn showed great familiarity and confidence on 
both sides. 

Hannah Penn takes an interest in Logan's love affairs, and Logan writes 
about Letitia Penn's proposed marriage to Mr. Aubrey. 

Penn's business directions are particular and confidential, and show unlim- 
ited trust. He tells him how to treat the men with whom he comes in contact, 
and even asks him to send his leather stockings, and writes about " a fine 
new wig." 

From shipboard Penn writes Logan : "I have left thee in an uncommon 
trust, with a lingular dependence on thy justice and care, which I expect thou 



26 GERMANTOWN. 

wilt faithfully employ in advancing my honest interest." — Penn and Logan 
Correspondence, p. 59, Vol. I. The trust was most honorably discharged in 
long j^ears of service. 

Penn left Logan the privilege of finishing the year in the Philadelphia slate- 
roof house he himself had occupied in Second street. Its location was the north- 
west corner of the Corn Exchange. It had a lot and garden. 

Penn gives Logan minute instructions in business matters, and Logan provides 
a banquet for the Governor and others on Penn's behalf and in his name. In 
government matters there is much to write about, and there are clashing 
interests in forming a new Province, as was natural. The Three Lower Coun- 
ties, now the State of Delaware, were tied to Pennsylvania in a way that 
caused much friction. The Three Upper Counties, which formed Pennsylvania 
proper, were Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester, and Delaware county was cut 
off from Chester county in after times. 

Penn charges Logan to watch that too much wood is not cut about the Falls, 
which term then designated Trenton. 

He commits his eldest son, William Penn, Jr., to his special care, when he 
sends him to Pennsylvania. We find Logan entertaining Lord Cornbury, 
both in Philadelphia and at Pennsbury. This nobleman was a first cousin of 
Queen Anne, and came to proclaim her accession. 

During Penn's pecuniary troubles Logan worked bravely to collect and re- 
mit funds, and the letters contain much about quit rents. Logan did not work 
merely for reward, and for years deferred the receiving of his salary, but in 
latter life a moderate sum was given him for the accumulated debt, and by 
business he became wealthy. It is strange to read how land was sold in vast 
quantities at trifling prices. A square at Second and Market, exclusive of a 
burying ground in it, was offered by Penn to a friend for less than £30 and 
declined, though the person who refused the square afterward regretted it. 
Penn then told him that the village would be a great city. 

Logan wrote Penn about William Penn Jr.'s coming over : " This is a place 
of ease, though not tb me, compared to that 'buzzing theatre." I suppose that 
the reference is to London. 

Logan tries to get a census and rent rolls, and the letters are enlivened by a 
discussion about hats which Penn ordered as choice beavers, and which Logan 
declared were not such when they reached this country. 

Logan writes that he wishes that Penn could own William Trent's slated 
house in Second street, affectionately adding, " I would give £20 to £30 out of 
my own jsocket that it were thine ; nobody's but thine." Trent was a rich 
man who had interests at Trenton, N. J., and who gave name to that place. 

Logan's letters are lengthj^, minute and faithful. And among quit rents 
are sprinkled births, marriages and deaths, as the joys and sorrows of that 
generation passed into eternity. 



GEEMANTOWN. 27 

Logan was President of the Province, with reputation to himself and satis- 
faction to the public, as Edward Armstrong notes from Proud's History of 
Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, p. 41, Penn and Logan Correspondence, Vol. 2, p. 399, 
note. 

In 1710 Logan was in England, having gone there by way of Lisbon and 
France. He spent twenty months in and about London, in 1710 and 1711, on 
Penn's affairs. 

For fort}"- years Logan was Penn's secretary and principal agent, and when 
he wished to retire, the six years of sickness which fell on Penn served to call 
out his continued work. 

Logan's influence over the Indians M^as good and he sometimes entertained 
300 to 400 of them at Stenton for days at a time. The Chief Cannassetego, of 
the Onoiidagoes, styled him, in behalf of the Indians, " our old friend, James 
Logan," and when he " found him hid in the bushes," as he expressed it, in 
his retirement and bodily infirmity, he drew him to Philadelphia from Stenton 
to assist at a treaty in A. D. 1742. The Indians testified " their satisfaction 
for his services and sense of his work, calling him a wise and good man, and 
expressing the hope that when his soul ascended to God one just like him 
might be found for the good of the Province and their benefit." 

It was a blessing of Providence that this toilsome man was allowed to retire 
from active life in advancing age. The scholar and lover of science found a 
congenial retreat at Stenton. He corresponded with foreign literati and enter- 
tained distinguished strangers at his country place. He patronized skillful 
men and encouraged merit. Dr. Franklin enjoyed his protection and friend- 
ship, and revered his memory. 

In age he was crippled by a fall. He spent several j^ears at his country 
place, and to use Mrs. Deborah Logan's words, " finished his useful and active 
life at his seat at Stenton, October 31, 1751, having just entered into the 77th 
j^ear of his age." He was buried at the Friends' graveyard. Fourth and Arch 
streets. 

There is a portrait of Logan at the Ridgway Library. 

Makin addressed to him his Latin poem, " Descriptio Pennsylvanite," in 
which these lines occur : 

" On just and fairest terms the land was gained ; 
No force of arms has any right obtained. 
'Tis here, without the use of arms alone, 
The blest inhabitant enjoys his own ; 
Here many to their wish, in peace enjoy 
Their happy lots ; and nothing doth annoy." 

Logan contributed to this peaceful relation with the Indians. In New York 
the Seneca Indians adopted a similar man, Philip E. Thomas, into their nation, 
giving him the name Sougonan, meaning Benevolent. 

In Day's Historical Collections of Pennsylvania, Stenton on Logan's Hill, is 
called the " favorite country residence of James Logan," and such it was. 



28 GERMANTOWN. 

Logan translated Cicero's " De Senectute " into English, with notes. Dr. 
Franklin wrote a preface, giving " his hearty wish that this first translation of 
a classic in this western world, ihrj be followed with many others, and be a 
happy omen, that Philadelphia shall become the seat of the American Muses." 

Logan Square, and the Loganian Society of Haverford College, perpetuate 
this great man's name, while his descendants still retain the ancient mansion. 

When the Philadelphia Library was formed a committee asked Logan to 
select a list of books to send to England, judging him to be " a gentleman of 
universal learning and the best judge of books in his part." Logan built a 
building for a library and donated books and left a moderate endownment for 
a librarian, for which he deserves the thanks of Philadelphia. The old library 
building was at the northwest corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. A picture 
of it may be seen in Thompson Westcott's Historic Mansions of Philadelphia, p. 
404. Watson in his Annals, describes Logan as " tall and well proportioned, 
with a graceful yet grave demeanor." 

In Logan's 73d j^ear he was asked to resume the Presidency of the Province, 
but declined. 

Religion was the comfort of his old age. He believed that, as he said, " the 
true end of man is the union of his soul with God." He drew up a paper 
of Christian resolves, addressed "To Myself"; and wished to keep his Christ- 
ian profession ever in mind, and to be active for good, and constant in prayer. 
He desired to rise early, and at night to examine himself, seeking God's for- 
giveness, and asking new strength from Him, watching against Satan, and 
praying to keep his heart right before God. 

Is it a wonder that at his death Duponceau should say, "And art thou, too, 
gone, friend of man ! friend of science ! Thou whose persuasive accents could 
still the angry passions of the rulers of men, and dispose their minds to listen 
to the voice of reason and justice." 

James Logan's son William was a member of the Provincial Council, and 
gave aged Indians a settlement on his land, called the Indian field. He also 
educated young Indians at his exj^ense. He nade a manuscript journal of 
travel from Philadelphia to Georgia. 

Dr. George Logan, son of William Logan the second, and grandson of Sarah 
Emlen, the husband of Deborah Logan, was a grandson of -James Logan, and 
was born at Stenton in 1755. He improved the farm, and was a member of 
the city and county Agricultural Societies, and of the Philosophical Society. 
He stood high in public life, and was United States Senator from 1801 to 1807. 
He visited France at his own expense in 1798 to strive 'to stop the threatened 
war between France and America, and met Talleyrand, and Merlin, Chief of 
the Directory. See Willis Hazard's Annals, a continuation of Watson, making 
Vol. 3, p. 446, where it is stated that his visit averted the war, which Thompson 
Westcott denies. See Historic Mansions of Philadelphia, " Stenton," p. 152. 
The visit stirred up much political excitement in this country, among the 
Federalists, and caused an act of Congress to be passed in 1799, " sometimes 



GERMANTOAVN. 29 

called the ' Logan Act.' " However, in 1810, he undertook another kindly 
voluntary mission to France, hoping to show English statesmen the poor policy 
of the conduct -which induced the war of 1812. " Blessed are the peacemakers," 
said the Master ; let us honor his good deeds. He was an acquaintance of Sir 
Samuel Romilly, Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Mr. Coke, the Duke of Bed- 
ford, and the Marquis of Wellesley. 

Deborah Logan survived her husband eighteen years, living through the 
Revolution. A very interesting account of her may be found, from the pen of 
Mrs. Owen J. Wister, in " Worthy Women of our First Century," edited by 
Mrs. Wister and Miss Agnes Irwin. " Sally Wister's Journal " was kept for 
the use of her " Dear Debby Norris " afterward Mrs. Logan. Conarroe painted 
her portrait when she was over seventy. 

When Deborah Logan went to Stenton, the estate, though already divided, 
stretched from Fisher's to Nicetown Lane, and from the Germantown turnpike 
to the Old York Road. It lies in a beautiful country, and Washington was 
delighted with its fine grass and tasteful and beautiful improvements, while 
he kindly noticed the children there. 

Stenton was for a time the headquarters of General Howe. 

After Dr. George Logan died, Albanus C. Logan resided at Stenton with his 
mother, Deborah Logan. 

If the reader would pursue the subject of the Stenton estate farther, let him 
consult the Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. 5, p. 127, etc., A. D. 1881, No. 2, 
" Germantown Road, and Its Associations," By Townsend Ward. The article 
has a picture of the mansion, and one will be found in Historic Mansions of 
Philadelphia. Mrs. Rebecca Harding Davis notices Stenton in an article on 
" Old Philadelphia," in Harper's Magazine, and I believe that The Continent 
has published somewhat concerning it several years ago, though I have not 
been able to examine the last three papers named. 

We now resume the synopsis of Ward's Notes. 

The distinguished Madame Greland had a ladies' school in Philadelphia 
from 1808 to 1835 or later. She rented this house for several years for the 
summer months for her school. 

The Logans at Loudoun are descendants of Mr. Armat. After the battle of 
Germantown the wounded Americans were carried to this hill and many were 
there buried. 

The Toland family occupies No. 4418. The house was built about 1740. 
Eighty or ninety years ago this family rented it for a residence in summer, but 
they bought it in a short time. Congressman George W. Toland lived here. 
On the 22d of June, 1881, Elizabeth Toland died here in her eighty-fourth j^ear. 
Her sister, Margaret, died January 1st, 1880, in her eighty-ninth year. Even 
in extreme old age they would walk a long distance to church. The end of 
the " large old rambling house " is toward the avenue. It is entered on the 
north side. The paving and grading here have exceeded the amount of the 
purchase money. On a window pane was an equestrian likeness of Frederick 



30 GERMANTOWN. 

the Great, supposed to be the work of a Hessian officer, inscribed, " M. J. 
Ellinkhuysen, fecit, 1783, Philadelphia." Mr. Toland had it framed. 

During the Revolution this was Colonel George Miller's house. His son 
Jacob was questioned by English officers quartered there with regard to "the 
rebels." His mother baked bread for the British, being paid in flour. The lad 
heard of no insult or violence. At the battle he crossed the road to where Mr. 
Lorain built afterwards, and now the late Mr. Adamson's fine, large, new house 
stands. From the cellar he and others saw the cannon balls flying, and heard 
the bullets whistling. He saw Sir William Howe. 

There was a British hospital in the stable at Mechlin's house, now George 
Mechlin Wagner's, No. 4434, crowning the hill. Charles M. Wagner states 
that this property consists of seven and a half acres and has been held since 
1764, having been bought of the executors of John Zachary. Zachary had 
bought different parts from John Theobald' Ent and Baltes Reser. In 1747 
he built the house and stone buildings in the meadow. There are still blood 
stains on the floors. The lands of Jan Streepers, Lenart Arets and Jacob 
Tellner are mingled in this tract. Tellner sold to the three Op den Graef 
brothers. The Shippen tract, through which Manheim street was opened, 
was anciently Op den Graef property. 

Opposite Fisher's lane is a house built about 1760, but enlarged by John 
Gottfried Wachsmuth. He died about 1826. He was a German and a 
merchant of some eminence. He married Mrs. Dutihl. In 1828 John Bohlen 
and others, executors of Wachsmuth, sold this place to John Snowden Henry, 
son of Alexander Henry. John S. Henry was an active manager of the House 
of Refuge, a Director of the United States Bank, and with Reuben Haines, 
was one of the founders of the Germantown Infant School, which still exists. 
John S. Henry's widow died in 1881. Her son. Mayor Henry, lived here in 
his youth. On the east side is a public school and tbe beautiful Wakefield 
Presbyterian Church, built by a bequest of William Adamson. Rev. A. Wil- 
son Clokey is its pastor. Lorain's house stood where Mr. Adamson's does. 
John Grigg occupied it several years. John Lorain had eight daughters, the 
youngest being named Octavia. One married Mr. Swift, of Easton. Mr. 
Charles J. Wister's painting of the Shoemaker mansion contains the two Misses 
Lorain who taught school in it. His father is speaking with them from the 
pavement. 

No. 4429 was William Mehl's house, but its appearance has been changed 
by the present occupant, Mr. William Henson. Another of the old land- 
marks on Germantown avenue is the unpretentious stone and plastered 
double house, No. 4431, above Wakefield Church, built in 1776 by Christopher 
Ottinger, a soldier of the Pennsjdvania line, who volunteered at the age of 17. 
His widow drew a pension for his service as 1st Sergeant. Capt. Douglass 
Ottinger, son of Christopher, was born in this old mansion Dec. 11, 1804, and 
still occupies the same bed-roona in which he was born. The Captain made his 
first voyage in 1822 on the ship Thomas Jefferson, of Philadelphia, and was 



GERMANTOWN. 33 

commissioned a Lieutenant in the U. S. Revenue Cutter service in 1832, by 
President Andrew Jackson. By order of the U. S. Government he expended 
the first appropriation for the Life Saving Service, and invented and named 
the " Life Car." In 1849, he constructed and furnished with a complete and 
effective life-saving apparatus, eight stations on the New Jersey coast from 
Sandy Hook to Little Egg Harbor. He is still (1889) in service as Senior 
Captain in the U. S. Revenue Marine. In the parlor of the old house hangs 
a life-size portrait of the Captain, painted by an eminent artist of New York, 
over forty years ago. The Captain was then in the full vigor of manhood, 
and now, although in his 85th year, is still in the enjoyment of health, walks 
erect, and carries his years with a soldierly grace. 

At the south-east corner of Fisher's lane, John Dedier built a hip-roofed 
house in 1773. In the wall at the corner of Fisher's lane and the avenue, is 
a piece of a tombstone, with skull and cross bones, and the words " Memendo 
Mory." Here is the 

LowEE Burying Ground. 

Jan Streepers, of Holland, gave a half acre for this graveyard, and after- 
ward more ground was added. Here is one inscription : 

Here 

Lyeth the body 

of Joseph Covlston, 

Husband of 

Margaret Covlston 

And son of Capt. Thomas 

Covlston, of Hartshorn, 

• In Darbyshire, in old 

England, who departed 

This life Vpon 

The first day of 

February, 1707-8, 

Aged C8 years 

And 8 months. 

The stone is talcose slate. Samuel Coulston," aged six week," has, also an 
ancient stone. John F. Watson piously placed here a tombstone for two Brit- 
ish officers. The inscription runs : 

" No more at War. 

Gen. Agnew & Col. Bird 

British Officers. 

Wounded in the Battle of Germantown." 

Their remains were removed to the de Benneville family burying ground, 
Milestown. as Mrs. Anne de Benneville Mears informs me. Rev. Christian 
Frederic Post, Missionary to aborigines of North and Central America (see 
Pa. Mag. of Hist. No. 1, of vol. 5, p. 119), was buried here in 1785, and has his 
tombstone near the gateway, to the right. He persuaded the Indians to leave 
their French allies and join the English. 

Captain Robert Lee, a native of the English Northumberland, died in 1798, 
and a stone marks his grave. Another commemorates a lad of 18, named 



34 GERMANTOWN. 

after Washington, and who had attained " a silver goblet for a literary pro- 
duction," as the epitaph states. 

William Hood, of Germantown, who obtained wealth in Cuba, died at Paris 
in 1850. He is buried here. By will he provided for the massive marble front 
wall. His nephew, William H. Stewart, a member of the Historical Society, 
caused William Struthers to construct the wall with its fine balustrade. It 
has been called Hood's Cemetery. Fisher's lane bounds the burying ground 
on the south. It was laid out "to Busby's, late Morris's Mill, in June, 1747." 
It is spoken of as a public road " leading to the late Christian Kintzing's, now 
Charles Hay's Mill." The city ordinance styles it East Logan street. The 
lane, as far as the railway near Ruscombe street, has fine houses and grounds 
adorned with trees. Two primeval large oaks on the south side, between 
Stenton avenue and the railway, are remarkable. They are said to equal 
English oaks in beauty. An old stone house stood at the northeast corner of 
■ the lane and Wakefield street. It was built in 1743, as a farm house by John 
Wister, grandfather of the late Charles J. Wister, who facetiously called it the 
"Castle of Rosenheim." It was of one story, but high, with a large loft and 
a large cellar. " Mr. Wister has an ambrotype of it." When demolished, 
buttons found seemed to indicate British possession. 

The lane descends, the VVingoliocking creek soon crosses it. The old mill 
seat is now occupied by the Wakefield Mills. Between the Wingohocking 
and Mill Creek in 1777, the " First Battalion of British Guards " were located, 
where Little Wakefield stands. The posts on Fisher's lane protected Sir 
William Howe's headquarters at Stenton. 

Joshua Fisher, before the Revolutionary war, had a line of packet ships be- 
tween Philadelphia and London. In 1756 he made a chart of the Delaware 
bay and river. His children are noticed in Ward's Walks in Second street, 
in the Historical Magazine. His son Thomas is commemorated in Fisher's 
lane. He was born in Lewes, Delaware. He traveled abroad and was capt- 
ured at sea in the war, in 1762-3, and carried a prisoner into Spain. He 
returned and joined his father and brother in the shipping business. He 
lived in Second street below Walnut. In 1771 he married Sarah, a daughter 
of William Logan. The yellow fever drove them to Germantown. They 
erected a small stone building "on the northernmost part of Stenton, which, 
as their portion, had fallen to them." In 1795, "or immediately afterwards, 
they built the house called Wakefield, named after the place of residence of 
his maternal ancestors, .loshua Maud, in Yorkshire, England." Seven gene- 
rations have lived on this estate. "James Logan, his son William, William's 
daughter, Sarah, her son, William Logan Fisher, his son, Thomas R., his 
daughter, Mary, and her daughter Miss Letitia Carpenter," who married 
William Redwood Wright, " a great-grandson of Miers Fisher of Ury." " On 
the wedding day the digging of the cellar of their house, Waldheim, was be- 
gun b}'^ the bride, who was followed by Mr. Wright's great uncle, the venerable 
Mr. Eli K. Price, who threw out the second shovelful of earth." 




or ^ 

AJITD 



GERMANTOWN. 37 

William Logan Fisher established mills on his property. He was "an 
author of some note as well as a manufacturer." Pott's two water corn mills, 
also supposed to be called ■' Busby's, late Morris's," are thought to be the Wake- 
field Mills. About 1830 an English newspaper speaks of frame work knitters~> 
as going to Germantown. Hose, gloves and broadcloth were made. The 
early settlers also made " excellent linens." The seal of the Bank of German- 
town contained a loom. The stocking industry is still important in German- 
town, one mill producing 18,000 pairs in a day. 

Wakefield meadow has been the scene of the meet of the " Hare and Hound 
Club," when the scattered bits of paper and the sounding horn have made a 
lively Fport. 

Belfield joins Wakefield. Charles Wilson Peale, the artist and founder of 
the Museum, resided here. He sold to William Logan Fisher. His daughter, 
William Wister's widow, now occupies the delightful place. William Wister 
was a genial man, some of whose pleasant sayings are noted by Ward. He 
lost his mills by fire. The goods of others were in them, but by j'-ears of 
economy he honorably paid his losses. 

Danenhower's mill and Armstrong's mill, are thought to be the same, a 
little north of Duy's lane. A lane running to the mill is called on a chart the 
" Road to Shellebarger's Mill." " It appears to have been abput where Arm- 
strong street now is." 

Thorp's Mill was north of Belfield. There were print works there. James, 
John and Issacher Thorp, three English brothers, gave name to the mill and 
lane. 

Wister street now replaces the earlier names of Danenhower's and Duy's 
lane. No. 4473 Main street, is Miller's old house. In its rear a quaint stone 
house, with creeping vines, is ancient. On the corner of Mehl street, is the 
Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist. Of its architect and architecture 
Ward quotes : 

" The solemn arches breathe in stone, 
Window and wall have lips to tell 
The mighty faith of days unknown." 

Rev. Chas. H. Hibbard is rector, and Rev. Joseph Wood, assistant minister. 
No. 4511 was George Royal's house. His grandchildren dwell in it. Another 
Royal house is opposite. The double stone house No. 4515, belongs to the 
same family. Its front door is a half door. 

The southern boundary of ancient Germantown Was a little south of Duy's 
lane. Its northern boundarj' was Washington street. The distance was 1.27 
miles. The land south of Neglee's Hill and north of Washington street was 
divided into " side lots " and numbered. The man who had a corresponding 
number on his Germantown lot obtained the side lot also. From Duy's lane 
to the foot of Neglee's Hill was called Schmiersburg. 

The emigrants brought passports on parchment, written with golden ink, 
and began their first stone town in this country under William Penn's gentle 



38 GERMANTOWN. 

sway. Some of them missed a navigable stream, but Oldmixon writes about 
1700 : " The whole street, about one mile in length, was lined with blooming 
peach trees." 

Peter Kalm, the Swedish traveler, pleasantly describes the town in 1748. 
"Most of the houses," he says, "were built of the same stone which is mixed 
with glimmer. Several houses, however, were made of brick. The town had 
three churches, one for the Lutherans, another for the Reformed Protestants, 
and the third for the Quakers. The inhabitants were so numerous that the 
street was always full. The Baptists have likewise a meeting-house." 

Alexander Wilson, the ornithologist, walking to Niagara passed German- 
town, and thus writes in the poem, " The Foresters " : 

" Till through old Germantown we lightly trod ; 
That skirts for three long miles the narrow road, 
And rising Chestnut Hill around surveyed, 
Wide woods below in vast extent displayed." 

A noted New York architect said that the masonry of Germantown was the 
best in the United States. 

No. 4537, Christopher Kinzel's barber shop, is the site of Thones Kunder's 
house. This building was Lesher's Tavern. A part of the wall of the ancient 
house is still in this one. In Kunder's house in 1683 " the Friends held their 
first meeting for worship." 

From Jefferson to Ashmead street were the grounds of Mr. Philip R. Freas. 
The printing office on the north side was long the place of printing the Ger- 
mantown Telegraph, which was under his editorship for over fifty years. 
Logan's run rises in a fish-pond on these grounds. 

COLONEL PHILIP R. FREAS. 
(Communicated.) 

Philip R. Freas, was born at Marble Hall, Montgomery county, Pa., Feb- 
ruary 22, 1809. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the printing business 
in the office of the Norristown Herald, then the leading Democratic paper of 
Montgomery county. When he reached his twenty-first year, he was offered 
an interest in the Herald establishment at a reasonable price, but preferred to 
start a newspaper of his own, and with that intention came to Germantown 
on the day that he reached his majority, February 22, 1830, bringing with 
him the names of sixty-five citizens of Norristown subscribers to the proposed 
journal. 

A few weeks after his arrival in Germantown, on Wednesday, March 17, 
the Village Telegraph appeared. Although but a small sheet compared 
with newspapers of the present day, it was then one of the largest journals in 
Pennsylvania. Germantown at that time was a straggling village of a few 
hundred inhabitants; the sidewalks in a number of places along the main 

*This statement is very questionable. I have a letter written by Gen. Aguew's orderly, who does 
not mention it, though describing his burial, and saying that he was buried in a church-yard. C. J. W. 



GERMANTOWN. 41 

street were not paved ; a railroad was not yet contemplated and an old rat- 
tling four-horse stage took a few passengers to the city in the morning and 
brought them home in the evening, nearly three hours being consumed in 
the round trip, and this was the only source of communication with the city. 
In a short time, however, suggestions in regard to the construction of a rail- 
road between Germantown and Philadelphia began to appear in the Telegraph, 
and in 1832 the project had so far advanced that the stock subscription books 
were simultaneously opened in Germantown, Philadelphia and Norristown 
and the rush of people anxious to buy shares was so great, that windows were 
broken, iron railings demolished by the swaying crowds and a number of 
persons were carried home in a fainting condition. 

When the " Native American " riot broke out in Philadelphia, in 1844, 
during which fifty people were killed or wounded, two Roman Catholic 
churches destroyed by incendiary fires and fifty houses burned or pillaged, 
the Telegraph was the only journal that fearlessly upheld sheriff Morton 
McMichael in his efforts to promptly subdue the riot and although the 
office of the Telegraph was threatened with destruction, Mr. Freas in his 
editorials declared that he would continue to fight for the immediate enforce- 
ment of the laws and suppression of the mob by the military, so long as he 
had a newspaper to command. 

Mr. Freas did much to promote the best interests of Germantown at a time 
when public improvements of every kind met with great opposition from many 
of the older citizens, who preferred having the primitive condition of things 
undisturbed. 

He was a strong adherent of the old Whig party and enjoyed a personal 
acquaintance with Henrj' Clay and Daniel Webster. He never occupied any 
public office, although several were offered him, the last and most important 
being that of Commissioner of Agriculture, tendered by President Grant, iu 
1870. 

Mr. Freas continued to conduct the Telegraph until August 1, 1883, a 
period of more than fifty-three years, when it was sold to Mr. Henry W. 
Raymond of New York. For two years and a half Mr. Freas lived in retire- 
ment and died on the first day of April, lSi86, in his seventy-seventh year. 

A sketch of Col. Freas appeared in the Telegraph in April, 1886, a few 
days after his death. 

Henry W. Raymond, a son of the former editor of the New York Times, be- 
came editor of the paper in 1883. 

St. Stephen's Methodist Episcopal Church is a building of English 
architecture and fine appearance. Rev. Wesley C. Best is the pastor. 

On the south-east corner of Bringhurst and Main streets, was the Bringhurst 
Mansion, owned by Jabez Gates. John Keen Gamble states that the early 
Bringhursts were buried in the Lower Burying Ground. They were extensive 
carriage builders about the time of the Revolution and afterwards. 



42 GERMANTOWN. 

Near the Bringhurst house is the site of the noted publishing house of 
Christopher Saur. Prof. Oswald Seidensticker, of the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, and Abraham H. Cassell, a descendant of Saur, have afforded means of 
giving his history. He was born in 1693, in Laasphe, Wittgenstein, West- 
phalia. In 1724 he came to Germantown with wife and son. The son was 
born September 26, 1721. Saur was a Dunkard preacher. He was bred a 
tailor, but had many other pursuits, being called in deeds "a clock and 
mathematical instrument maker." He imported German Bibles. He built a 
large stone house where No. 4653 stands. In a room here the Dunkards 
w^orshipped. Saur became a printer and in 1739 put forth his first almanac. 
Then he printed the book, "The Hill of Incense," in the German tongue. In 
1748 he printed the Bible in German forty years before it was printed here in 
English. In 1739 he began a newspaper, the " High German Pennsylvania 
Historian, or, A Collection of Important News from the Kingdom of Nature 
and of the Church." Saur pitied emigrants, and was the means of establish- 
ing the Lazaretto. He died September 25, 1758. His only son, Christopher, 
took up the business of his father. He married Catharine Sharpnack (Ger- 
mantown has a Sharpnack street). " He issued a second edition of the Bible 
in 1763." He introduced ten-plate stoves, which Dr. Franklin improved. He 
sold medicines from Dr. DeBenneville's prescriptions. " In 1773 he built a 
paper mill on the Schuylkill." In 1775 the Convention of Pennsylvania 
" passed resolutions favorably commending his ingenuity." In 1776 he'issued 
a third edition of the Bible. The paper was continued till 1770 by Billmeyer, 
and afterward by Samuel Saur. The family kept up the printing business, 
and the Philadelphia publisher Charles G. Sower is a descendant. Mr. Wil- 
liam H. Sowers of Harvey street is another. 

Squire Baynton lived in this same house. Dr. Owen J. Wister built on this 
site the fine house numbered 4653, and dwelt in it. Afterwards Moses Brown 
bought it and resided in it. Mr. Robert Pearsall Smith now lives there. 

Next on the north is " Wister's Big House." Hans Casper and Anna 
Katerina Wister (Wuster) of Hillspach near Heidelberg, Germany, were the 
progenitors of the Wisters and Wistars so well-known in Germantown and 
Philadelphia. 

CasjDer reached Philadelphia in 1717, and established button and glass fac- 
tories. When Casper took the oath of allegiance in 1721 the clerk wrongly 
spelt the name Wistar, and his descendants still write it so. Dr. Casper Wistar, 
founder of the Wistar parties was one. 

John Wister, brother of Casper, was the father of Mrs. Dr. William Chan- 
cellor, from whom are descended the Chancellors and Twells. John Wister's 
second wife, a German lady was the mother of Mrs. (Col.) Samuel Miles, and 
the ancestress of the McKeans, of Washington, and the Bayards of German- 
town. John Wister owned Wister's Wood, through which Wister street runs. 
He died in 1789. In 1744 he built " Wister's Big House," opposite Indian 




"WISTER HOMESTEAD," GERMANTOWN, BUILT BY JOHN WISTER, 1744. 



GERMANTOWN. 45 

Queen Lane, " for a summer residence." It is marked No. 4661. Here Gen- 
eral Agnew died. 

The granddaughter of this gentleman wrote "Sallie Wister's Journal." 



REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WISTER 
HOMESTEAD, MAIN STREET, OPPOSITE INDIAN QUEEN LANE, 

GERMANTOWN. 

In the early part of the last century, there hved in Lancaster county, Penn- 
sylvania, an old German and his only daughter, a child of tender years, 
Justina by name. The old man being prostrated by a fatal malady, and 
convinced that his days were numbered, was much disturbed by the reflection 
that his death would leave his daughter without friend or relation to protect 
her. In this strait he determined to send her to Philadelphia, and entrust 
her to the care of John Wister, the elder, whose charity and benevolence had 
reached liis ears. Instructing her to this effect, when her father had been 
carried to his last resting place, she set out for the city, alone and on foot, and 
thus performed the whole journey of seventy weary miles. The confidence of 
her father was not misplaced, for Justina was kindly received and forthwith 
taken into the service of her benefactor, in whose family she remained, a most 
faithful servant, until her death at a very advanced age. 

During the occupancy of Philadelpliia by the British, in 1777-8, John 
Wister remained in the city, and was thus separated from his family, who, in 
order to escape the inconveniences they were likely to be subjected to by the 
hostile army, took up their abode at North Wales, Montgomery county. Ger- 
mantown being too near to afford the security sought, the old mansion, 
meanwhile, was left in charge of Justina, who had by this time come to years 
of discretion, and proved her trustworthiness. When the British advanced 
to the village, the mansion being one of the largest in the place, was seized 
upon for the headquarters of Gen'l Agnew, a distinguished officer of the in- 
vading army. 

On the day that the battle of Germantowii was fought, October 4, 1777, 
Justina was observed by Agnew hard at work in the garden with a small, two- 
pronged German hoe — long preserved in the family as a relic. The kind- 
hearted man expostulated with her for exposing herself in this way, and 
recommended her, when the battle commenced, to retire to the cellar as the 
place of greatest safety. The old woman was obstinate, however, and con- 
tinued working away throughout the fight, quite unharmed. After giving 
this humane advice, Agnew set out for the scene of action, but never to reach 
it ; for, as is well-known, he was shot by a man named Boyer, concealed be- 
hind the Concord school-house. Mortally wounded he was carried back to 
his headquarters, and laid bleeding on the floor of the west parlor, where the 
stain of his blood is still visible, having resisted the scrubbings of a centurj'. 
Some of the boards were so stained that they were removed. It is proverbial 



46 GERMANTOWN. 

that the marks of blood cannot be washed out, and this goes far to confirm it. 

Old Justina's exit was as mysterious as her introduction into the family in 
whose service she so long remained, and savored of the supernatural. In fact 
the respect that she entertained for lier benefactors required that the announce- 
ment of her departure should not reach them by any less reliable agent than 
herself, consequently her wraith very properly assumed the responsibility of 
making the communication. 

During the yellow fever summer of 1793, Justina was, as usual at that 
season, in charge of the city dwelling, whilst the family of John Wister were 
in their homestead at Germantown. Awaking at the early dawn, one morn- 
infT, to their great surprise, two of its members perceived in the mysterious 
grey light, Justina standing at the door looking in at them. So distinct was 
the apparition that one expressed to the other great surprise, knowing that 
she was in the city. In tlie course of the day (for there were no telegraphs 
or express carriers to convey news, then) when the whole matter was dis- 
missed from the minds of the incredulous persons to whom the vision was 
related, and who viewed it as a phantom of the imagination, the staggering 
intelligence arrived of the old woman's death, not only, but of its occurrence 
at the precise hour — that weird and ghostly hour when day and night seem 
to meet — in which she so mysteriously appeared in Germantown. 

The Wister Homestead was the pioneer of its class, for it was the first house 
built in Germantown designed for a summer residence : it is an example that 
has had many followers in latter days. It was built to resist the ravages of 
time moreover, for the walls are of prodigious thickness, and the joists are of 
oak hewn in Wister's woods. 

The garden, above referred to, connected with the house, is worthy of 
special mention, for there 

" No daintie flowre or hevbe ihat growes on ground, 
No arborette with painted blossoms drest 
And smelling sweete, but tliere it may be found 
To bud out faire, and throwe her sweete smels al around." 

This inclosure, in after years so exquisitely cultivated, and whose fragrance 
is such as belongs only to gardens mellowed by time, and filled with the sweet 
memories of many generations of fruits and flowers, had originally better 
claims to the title of orchard, for John Wister, the elder, brought with him 
from the Fatherland the German taste for cultivation of fruits, and a great 
variety of pears, plums, etc., were cultivated by him ; several remnants of 
which old stock still flourish, and produce though they have witnessed at 
least a hundred and fifty returning summers. 

The name of Wister was never spelled Wwster, as has been stated. The 
German u, with the umlaut {u) having no equivalent in the English language, 
the letter i was substituted as that most nearly approximating it. 

The Philadelphia News, gives this note on this place : 

On the grounds of the old Physick mansion on Fourth street, which I have 



GERMANTOWN. 49 

told you about, there grows a mighty elm, which, although not quite so hand- 
some as the Dundas tree, is still an object of admiration and a great source of 
speculation as to its age to the hundreds of working people who daily pass uj) 
and down Fourth street. On the grounds of Mr. Charles J. Wister's place in 
Geriuantown there grows a specimen, probably of the rarest tree in America; 
it is called the Virgilla lutea, I believe. It is said to have been named after 
the poet Virgil. A few of these trees were transplanted to this part of the 
country from Kentucky, where the}'' grow wild sparingly along the Kentucky 
river. This tree bears a white flower, which resembles that of the wisteria; 
the wood is extremely hard and has a yellow color; on this account the tree 
has been vulgarly called the "yellow wood." There is a storj' connected witli 
it — that the shittim wood spoken of in the Scripture is one and the same 
thing as tiie Virgilla lutea. 

In 1779, Major Lenox dwelt here briefly and was married to Miss Lukens in 
the west parlor, where also William Wister of Belfield was married. Here 
" Major Lenox was advised of the attack on Fort Wilson, at Third and Walnut 
streets." See Frederick D. Stone's excellent account of the matter, Pennsylvania 
Magazine of History, vol. 2, p. 392. Afterwards the Wister house was assaulted 
at night by nearly two hundred men ; his cousin, a young lady, walked to the 
city and called the First City Troops to the rescue. 

Daniel Wister, son of John, married Lowry, a daughter of Owen Jones, of 
Wynnewood. He is the father of John and of Charles J. Wister, deceased. 
He was very fond of animals. At Daniel Wister's house in Market street, 
Philadelphia, Dr. Franklin put up his first lightning rod. Daniel Wister 
died October 27, 1805. 

Daniel's brother William with Owen Jones, Jr., and Col. Samuel Miles 
" signed much of tiie paper money of the province." He died in 1800. He 
was a bachelor, kind-hearted, and cared for the unfortunate, even keeping 
some poor at his own table. An Indian whom he supported was asked by 
him to pile some wood, and he received the reply "Do you think there's work 
enough for two, Billy ? for if there ain't, you had better do it yourself." 

Charles Jones Wister, was a son of Daniel, and a nephew of William, in 
whose counting-house he was employed. He traveled through Pennsylvania 
and Virginia to collect debts ; there was much wilderness and few bridges. 
George Ashton, their clerk, warned him; "Charley beware of creeks; thee'd 
look very foolish if thee was to come home drownded." At Winchester, Va., he 
met the Duke de Rochefaucault, who wished to dine alone but was forced by 
the landlord to admit the other guests. Still the Duke's travels do justice to 
American innkeepers, one of whom was Baron Beaulieu. At Mound ville, 
Ohio, Ward once found a refined landlady, and being mistaken for Charles 
Dickens was " taken on a fox hunt by the landlord." 

Charles J. Wister was intimate " with Adam Seybert, a pupil of Wagner 
and Blumenbach, who had come here from German}^ with the first cabinet of 
minerals known in this country, and he also in time formed for himself an 



50 GERMANTOWN. 

1 

extensive one." After his uncle died he was partner in the firm, " John & 
Charles J. Wister ; " afterwards, John M. Price being introduced, it was 
" Wister, Price & Wister." The Germantown wood and farm and mansion 
on the avenue fell to him. He used the house " as a summer residence until 
1812, after which he remained there permanently." He kept up active busi- 
ness till 1819, going daily to the city. Peters' stage made tri-weekly trips, 
slowly, over poor roads. He often started his drive by starlight. After busi- 
ness was over he and others went to James P. Park's store to converse. They 
formed the Twilight Club, some of whom aided in establishing " the world re- 
nowned Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia." 

Mr. Wister " led a retired life " He was thoroughly scientific, but very 
modest. John Jay Smith pronounced him " the greatest botanist living." 
He lectured on botany and mineralogy for the benefit of the Germantown 
Academy, and was Secretary of its Board of Trustees. In 1835 he built an 
observatory, which contained " a transit instrument and an astronomical 
clock made by his friend, Isaiah Lukens. He made daily observations, giving 
the villagers correct time. He read the English classics with care and could 
quote them freely. He had mechanical skill and left many admirable pieces 
of handicraft. He died July 23, 1865, in his eighty-fourth year. His son, Mr. 
Charles J. Wister, now occupies the house." 

We continue the abridgment of Ward's Germantown Road. His fifth 
article begins by stating that the early makers of j'arn worked so faithfully in 
the ancient village that " Germantown Wool " denoted " the best article of the 
kind, wherever made throughout the States." He ascertained that the vine- 
clad house back of No. 4473 was a "bakehouse for troops during the Revolu- 
tion." Mr. Justice Blair Linn, of Bellefonte, wrote Mr. Ward further informa- 
tion as to Ellinkhuysen, who made the equestrian statue of Frederick the 
Great on a window pane in the Toland house. His grave is in the Presbyterian 
churchyard at Lewisburg, Pa. The inscription runs : 

" Here lies the body of Mathias Joseph Ellinkhuysen, 

Who departed this life July 17, 1792, 

Aged thirty-eight years and three months. 

Since it is so we all must die, 

And death doth no one spare ; 

So let us all to Jesus fly. 

And seek for refuge there." 

James F. Linn, Esq., stated that Carl Ellinkhuysen, of Amsterdam, Holland, 
had the title to. all the town lots in Lewisburg, except seventeen, derived from 
George Derr, son of Ludwig Derr, the proprietor. Carl sent his son to this 
country to look after his interest." He used to draw " striking likenesses of 
his companions." His wife Clara Helena was a great skater, which was 
natural in a Dutch lady. 

The Wagner house is next to Toland's, and Mr. Justice W. Jordans's re- 
searches aided Ward here. In the Magazine of History, Vol. 5, p. 250, Mr. Ward 
said : John Zachary had purchased part in 1745 from John Theobald Ent, 



GERMANTOWN. 53 

and in 1747 he built the present house." Mr. Jordan adds the following in- 
formation : Ent, or properly Endt, became an active Moravian. On January 
12, 1742, a Synod was held at his house. Count Zinzendorf presided. Endt's 
children were pupils at the Moravian schools. 

Next to Endt's house was that "of the Rev. John Bechtel, a Palatine from 
Franckenthal, wliose daughter married the Indian Missionary, Buttner. 
Bechtel prepared for the Moravian Church a reformed catechism, which was 
printed by Franklin in 1742. John Stephen Benezet's house was near by." 
Zinzendorf came to Philadelphia in 1741. He boarded with Bechtel. In 
1746 Justice Peter MuUer, Englebert Lock, Jean de Dier, Peter Hoffman, 
Anthonjr Gilbert, Cornelius Weygand, Marcus Munzer and Hans Gerster re- 
quested the Moravians of Bethlehem to open a girls' school in Germantown. 
Justice Bechtel o£fered the use of his house. The boarding and day school 
opened in September. Rev. James Greening and wife supervised it. Two 
Indian girls attended the school. It was kept up until 1749. In 1747 Mr. 
Bechtel gave ground for a Moravian graveyard on his place. 

West Logan street has been called Norris street and Terrace avenue and 
Abbotsford avenue. 

Logan's run crosses the Henry property. Royal's charming meadow was 
near by, where sheep used to diversify the picture. The British built huts for 
cavalry around in it. They used rails covered with sod. In 1793 George 
Royal, supposed to be a sou of a Royal who lived about the middle of the last 
century, married Mary Sommers. Peale painted her portrait. George Royal 
lived in a house on the east side of Main street, no longer standing. John 
Wagner's new houses are on its site. 

No. 4506, west side, "is the house of George Royal's son, Edward, who bought 
the meadow." It is said to have been built in 1747. It is " modernized." 
Edward Royal, in driving, once met a wagon in a narrow place, the driver of 
which would not turn out ; he waited until the driver yielded, when he said, 
" Do you know what I would have done if you had not turned out when you 
did? " " No," was the gruff reply. " Why then," said Royal, chuckling, " I 
should have turned out myself" 

No. 4511 was the residence of George Royal's son, Jacob. " The children of 
these brothers continue to occupy these large buildings." No. 4515, before 
spoken of, " was bought by the Royals about twenty -five years ago. Pre- 
viously it had been for two generations occupied by the Duys, who gave their 
name to the lane near by." 

Spring Alley is named from a spring on it. North of it is the old house, 
numbered 4528. Samuel Fleckenstein lived in it, and later another bearing 
the same name, who used to tell of the battle of Germantown. Latterly 
Frederick, grandson of the first, lived here. They were fine mechanics. The 
eldest one did some of the iron work needed to aid the Sauers in printing. 
The two first Fleckensteins used to do jobs at 3 cents a piece, no matter how 
long they were occupied. Frederick tried this, but the war forced him up to 



54 GERMANTOWN. 

6 cents. "With small gains they were contented, happy and re?pectable. 
Ward asks, " who, then, can say they were not wise ? " The second Flecken- 
stein was with Miller in Lorain's cellar at the battle. He never went into the 
city, as he told Alexander Henry. Chickens and pigeons were at home in his 
little shop. The artist, George B. Wood painted the interior of the shop ex- 
cellently. Fleckenstein was fond of botany and mineralogy, and took long 
walks with his friend, George Redles, botanizing. About nine years ago this 
simple-hearted student of nature died of pneumonia, when about eighty years 
old. 

On the north side of Duy's lane, about a quarter of a mile east of Main 
street, is a house, which in 1837 was bought by the late Jeremiah Hacker, and 
where his family now live. 

At the southwest corner of Main and Manheim streets is an old-fashioned 
inn with hipped roof It has been tastefully enlarged. Pickus and Bockius 
afterward kept it. William K. Cox enlarged it and conducted it. The lane 
at the side has been called Pickus', Betton's and Bockius's, and Cox's. Jacques 
Marie Roset called it Manheim street, "in honor of thebeauty of the ladies of 
Manheim, in Germany." Roset, a Frenchman, came as a young man from 
Austria to America, attracted by Washington's character. Having landed in 
Philadelphia in 1792, and walking up Chestnut street with some of his coun- 
trymen he met Washington, who saw that they were Frenchmen, and, as Wat- 
son says, thus greeted him : " Bien venu en Amerique." This pleased Roset 
greatly. In 1821 he began to reside in the Toland property, on Main street, 
below Manheim, and remained there twelve years. He moved to a house on 
the corner of Spring Alley and Manheim street. He had a Sunday-school 
here and was a favorite with children. He was fond of flowers, and used to 
present Mrs. Butler (Fanny Kemble) a bouquet when she rode by his house. 
He died at the age of 86. He is buried in the Lutheran churchyard. John 
Roset, his eldest son, was a merchant in Philadelphia. His wife was Miss 
Mary Laning, a granddaughter of Judge Matthias Hollenback, of Wilkes- 
barre ; one of his daughters married Dr. Justice L. Ludlow, another, Justice 
Broadhead, and a third, Anthony J. Drexel. 

Dr. Samuel Betton came to Germantown from the Island of Jamaica, when 
Dr. Bensell was growing old. He married the daughter of Col. Thomas Forrest, 
" a Revolutionary character." He bought the rather striking, but agreeable 
looking house, 

" WHITE COTTAGE," 

wbich yet stands on the north side of Manheim street, west of Greene, and is 
occupied by Theodore Justice. He added the octagon room. The Bettons were 
of the Bethune family, as was the Duke of Sully, the minister of Henry IV. 
His son, the late Dr. Thomas Forrest Betton, married Elizabeth, a daughter of 
Albanus Logan, of Stenton. These are now represented by Mr. Samuel Betton. 
Opposite this cottage is Taggart's Field. A part of the house on it is said 



GERMANTOWN. 57 

to be prerevolutionary. Here the British infantry bad huts. After they de- 
parted young Miller saw on the field " Count Pulaski's Legion of Cavalry, four 
hundred men in their uniform of nearly white. He said the Legion was 
formed mostly of prisoners of Burgoyne's Army, Germans and others." 

Beyond Betton's is Thomas A. Newhall's place, originally Robert Toland's. 
In 1860 the Marquess of Chandos, afterward Duke of Buckingham, was a guest 
here. The Marquess saw William Pen n's. portrait in the Hall of the Historical 
Society, which had been presented by Granville Penn, his great-grandson. 
He told Ward that he remembered it, having seen it at Stoke-Poges, the 
English seat of the Penns. 

No. 4558 — This large double stone house was occupied by Commodore 
James Barron, forty or fifty years ago, when he v^as in command of the Phila- 
delphia Navy Yard. This gentleman painted one of James Gowen's fine cat- 
tle ; the painting is in Mr. Blake's parlor in London. The Commodore's 
grandson, Capt. James Barron Hope, who wrote the ode for the Yorktown 
Centennial was a schoolboy in German town. Count Miollis often dined at the 
Commodore's. He taught French at McClanagan's Academy. He was an 
officer under Napoleon the Great, and made the Pope a prisoner. 

After Commodore Barron left his house, Capt. Henry A. Adams, of the Navy, 
occupied it, and afterwards Col. John G. Watmough, " who earned his laurels 
in the sortie at Fort Erie." He was Sheriff, and a Representative in Congress. 
. No. 4562 was the shop of Green the hatter. The long old building. Ward 
quaintly says, had nine parts of a proof of prosperity, and one of traffic. There 
used to be fifty martin boxes here. 

Edward Shippen, a wealthy Boston merchant, whose nephew was a member 
of Parliament, " Honest Will Shippen," as Robert Walpole styled him, having 
been punished for being a Quaker in Boston came to Philadelphia. He was 
the first Mayor of Philadelphia, and built •" Shippy's great house " in Second 
street above Spruce. The name was pronounced Shippy. It was called the 
Governors' House, as many Governors lived in it. 

In 1709, Joseph Shippen, son of the Mayor, began to buy land in German- 
town. He and his sons at length owned 100 acres. In 1716 he began to live 
there, perhaps in summer. Doubtless he built the house which was on the 
site of the one occupied by Mr. Heft, No. 4912. It is not known whether he 
or his family lived any length of time in it. In 1740 in Joseph's deed to his 
sons Edward, Joseph and William the house is called the " Roebuck Tavern." 
In 1819 William Shippen, great-grandson. of Joseph's son William, together 
with his wife Mary, " conveyed the property to George Heft, with whom it be- 
came the well-known Buttonwood Ta,vern, marked by two stately trees of that 
variety standing before it, only one of which now remains. It is a large old 
gnarled tree, spectre-like, for its bark is gone, and altogether it is one of the 
most striking looking trees in Germantown." Caspar Heft, son of George, is 
now the owner of.the property. 



58 GERMANTOWN. 

"Joseph Shippen's youngest son, Dr. William, was born in 1712." He was 
eminent as a physician. He died at ninety, being beloved by all who knew 
him. He was twice a member of the Continental Congress, and though aged> 
constantly attended its sessions. He married Susannah, daughter of Joseph 
Harrison, of Philadelphia. Prof. William Shippen, his son, was born in 1736. 
He studied with his father and " under the celebrated Hunters in England." 
In 1776 he was appointed " Chief Physician for the Flying Camp." He was 
elected " Director-General of all the Military Hospitals in the United States." 
He died in Germantown on the 11th of July, 1808. Thacher, in his Medical 
Biography, speaks of these Shippens, father and son, and in high but just 
terms. Dr. Wistar's graceful eulogy on the Professor was given in 1809. Prof. 
Shippen married Alice Lee, " daughter of Col. Thomas Lee, Governor of the 
Province of Virginia." Thomas Lee Shippen, his son, was born in 1765. He 
graduated at Princeton, studied law at Williamsburg, Va., with James Madison, 
and was afterward of the Inner Temple, London. He married in 1791 
" Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Major James Parke Farley, and granddaughter 
of Col. William Byrd, 3d, of Westover, on the James. Their son was Dr. 
William Shippen, born at Farley, Bucks county, Penna., in 1792, married in 
1817, Marie Louise Shore, of Petersburg, Va., and died in Philadelphia, June 
5, 1867. He was a Vice-President of the Historical Society. 

No. 4622 is the residence of Mr. William Wynne Wister. Gilbert Stuart, the 
artist, once resided here. The remaining walls of his studio still stand back 
of the house. There he painted the excellent portrait of Washington. 

No. 4626 is Mr. Harlan's large house ; first a summer residence, but now in 
continuous use. 

No. 4630 was Squire Peter Baynton's daughter's residence. The Bayntons 
were a noble^ English family noted by Burke. They were related to the Budds, 
of New Jersey, and the Chevaliers, Markoes, Wisters and Camacs of Philadel- 
phia, and the Morgan family near Pittsburg. Squire Baynton was Adjutant 
General of the Pennsylvania Militia. His son John was Mayor of Natchez. 
He died in Philadelphia, and his widow " is the only one now bearing the 
name." 

No. 4634 is a large house standing back, nearly opposite to where the 
Bringhurst house stood. For more than thirty years " it has been owned and 
occupied by the late Isaiah Hacker and his family." It was built by Mr. 
Forbes. DavidJHayfield Conyngham, of Ireland, son of Redmond Conyngham, 
Esq., and Martha, daughter of Robert Ellis, of Philadelphia lived in it. 
Redmond Conyngham came here in 1756, and was one of the original mem- 
bers of the firm of J. M. Nesbit & Co. He returned to Ireland in 1767 and 
died in 1785. David married in 1779, " at Whitemarsh, Mary, daughter of 
William and Mary West. She died August 27, 1820." He was a partner in 
the house of J. M. Nesbit & Co., which was distinguished in the Revolution. 
After 1783 the firm was Conyngham, Nesbit & Co. David H. Conyngham was 
a descendant of William Conyngham, Bishop of Argyll, and a cousin of Baron 



GERMANTOWN. 61 

Plunket, Chief Justice of Ireland, and also a cousin of Capt. Gustavus 
Conyngham, U. S. Navy. David H. " was father of the Hon. John N. Conyng- 
ham of Wilkes-Barre. He died on the first of March, 1834, and was buried in 
the grounds of our Christ Church." His life was interesting, and Rev. Horace 
E. Hayden, of Wilkes-Barre, is to write his memoir. " After Mr. Conyngham 
left the house, and perhaps immediately, Miss Hannah, a maiden sister of John 
and Charles J. Wister, occupied it for a dozen years or more." In 1832 the 
house was sold by Samuel Taylor and William Rainey to Alexander 
Prevost. In 1835 he " sold to the Rev. William Neill, pastor of the old Presby- 
terian Church on the Main street below Haines." In 1844 he sold " to the late 
Isaiah Hacker." No. 4636 on the west side of the street, with its shaggy exte- 
rior, defies the storm, and promises comfort within. On a pane of glass in it 
was written, " Anna W. Morris, and Maria Abercrombie, 1807." Miss Aber- 
crombie's father was assistant minister of Christ Church and St. Peter's. She 
was vivacious in age, as well as youth. She was a cousin of the Bayntons. 
Mrs Abigail Johnson Morris, wife of Justus Johnson, lived here long since ; 
of late it has been the abode of the late William Howell's family. 

No. 4838 is Handsberry's house. This was once Theobald Endt's house. 
Last autumn it was the theatre of a scene that always pleases — the ancient 
couple residing there celebrated their golden wedding in 1882. 

Woltemate's greenhouse. No. 4646, is the site of the residence of the Van- 
Lauchets. Christian and John, grandsons of the long ago Barbara Van- 
Lanchet, have recently died. They were the last of a Holland family, who 
were early settlers in Germantown. Michael Riter's Indian Queen Inn is now 
a grocery store at the southwest corner of Indian Queen Lane. " Moderns," 
Mr. Ward says, " affect to call it Queen street." He thought that the change 
would not succeed. A fruitless attempt was made "to have it called Whittle's 
or Riter's lane. An earlier name. Bowman's, has also passed into oblivion. 

" In the early part of this century the properties No. 4630 to 4638 inclusive, 
belonged to a well-known family named Forbes. William Forbes erected the 
house occupied by David H. Conyngham." 

At Indian Queen Lane some American soldiers were about to arrest a British 
surgeon after the battle of Germantown, but learning that he had dressed the 
wounds of three American officers in the house of Widow Hess, he was 
allowed to go free ; while a man who overset his chaise at Bowman's Lane and 
exposed some silver plate was captured. 

On the northeast corner of old Bowman's lane and Knox street, Louis Rene 
Jacques Joseph Binel lived. He was an accomplished Frenchman. His 
grandfather was a friend of General Armand, whose picture adorns the Hall 
of the Historical Society. He met Mons. Gardel, the Philadelphia teacher, in 
Constantinople, and he spoke highly of Germantown. He became Legal 
Adviser to Maximilian, and when the Mexican Empire failed, engaged in 
teaching French in Germantown. He spoke of the quick apprehension of the 
poor Empress Carlotta. 



62 GERMANTOWN. 

Watson says all the British infantry were located about where Col. John 
Morgan Price's seat was, i. e. Manheim street, west of Wayne. " On the north 
side of Indian Queen Lane is a Potter's Field." It was bought in 1755 for £5, 
10s. It contained 140 perches. It lies west of Wayne street, about where 
Pulaski crosses, and the region about it is called ' Pulaski Town.' " It was cut 
out of John Blicker's lot, No. 6. On the same lot on the Main street is a 
double house built by Christopher Sauer. It was Joseph Bullock's residence 
and afterward used by his son, Dr. Bullock. It is said that the solid founda- 
tions of a former house underlie this one, and that here Christopher Sauer did 
some of his work in preparing type. Trinity Lutheran church owns it. It is 
a parsonage, and the Rev. Luther E. Albert, D. D., the minister of the parish, 
dwells in it. Formerly Dr. Justus Fox's house was north of it. His son, Em- 
manuel, manufactured lampblack. Emmanuel's son George was in the same 
business, and was a bee fancier. Their conscientious work made" German- 
town lamp-black " the highest grade in commerce. 

Trinity Lutheran Church is the daughter of the church farther up German- 
town avenue. It was founded in 1 836, holding service in a brick building, corner 
of Main and Mill streets. Rev. Dr. Mayer installed its vestry. Rev. William 
Scholl was the first pastor ; Rev. S. M. Finckle, D. D., and Rev. William F. 
Eyster followed. Rev. Dr. Albert became pastor in 1851. Prof Martin L. 
Stoever is buried in the graveyard. The very tall man, of this church, James 
Reeside, was also interred here. He was called " Admiral," as he dii'ected 
stage coaches. Mrs. Stellwagen buried here is thought to have been 101 
years old. 

Capt. Jno. Stadelman lived about the present No. 4718. He commanded the 
Germantown Blues. He was a great fisherman. Christophel Bockius lived at 
the N. W. corner of Coulter and Main streets. He was an aged farmer, and 
owned about 20 acres of land. 

The Frankfort Land Company gave an acre of land near the Friends' 
Meeting House on Main street, west side, for " a Market, Town House, Burying 
Place, and other Public Buildings." This was the center of the town, and here 
Ward thinks that the Court was held till removed to Market Square. Its seal 
was a trefoil surrounded by the words " Sigillum Germanopolitanum." 

THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE. 

The Friends' Meeting House belongs to Frankford Monthly Meeting and 
Abington Quarterly Meeting. The Germantown Friends, while meeting at 
private houses in 1688, " issued their famous testimony against slavery." Jacob 
Shoemaker conveyed the land to the Friends. The first Meeting House is thought 
to have been of wood ; and a part of its foundation was found a few j^ears ago. 
In 1708 a new stone building on the same site arose. In this building the first 
Isaac Norris died, A. D. 1735. In 1812 a third meeting-house was built, west 
of the old site, near its location, and near the present school-house. In 







THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE, COULTER AND MAIN STREETS. 



GERMANTOWN. , 65 

1871 it disappeared and a fourth meeting-house was erected, still further to the 
west. An old tablet from the 3d house is preserved in the committee room. 



PENN 


ANNO 


GER 


OLD 


1705 


MAN 


NEW 


1812 


TOW. 



A Friends' burying-ground joins the meeting-house. Perhaps fifty years ago 
the Friends had a library. Alfred Cope and others of late " began to- build 
upon this foundation." They erected the fine stone building, and stored it 
with about 3000 valuable books. Alfred Cope endowed it. It has now about 
11000 volumes. Novels are excluded. The library building. Ward believed 
to have been on a part of Lot No. 9, which was Jacob Isaacs van Bebber's. He 
soon left Germantown. One of the name was Judge in the Supreme Court of 
Delaware, and another a noted physician in Baltimore. The Maryland Van- 
Bebbers were a distinguished family. Van Bebber's Rock at Falls of the 
Kanawha commemorates a daring Indian fighter of that name. 

" The library is under the charge of William Kite, a Friend. He is de- 
scended from James Kite, who preceded Penn. He held land in the present 
Park, and " paid the Indians what they deemed the value of it." He married 
Mary Warner, a daughter of William, supposed to be an ancestor of the one who 
owned the land occupied by the " Colony in Schuylkill," styled by the amateur 
fishers "Baron." On the 1st of June they paid him as rent, "three fresh 
sun perch." 

There was an earlier " Germantown Library." The date of its seal was 1745. 
Baltus Reser was Treasurer and Christian Lehman, Secretary. 

No. 4772 was Albert Ashmead's residence. His father was John, and grand- 
father William, " brother of Captain John Ashmead of the Revolution." He 
brought in cargoes of powder. The great nephew, Albert, was " Captain of the 
Troop of Germantown Cavalry." William Ashmead, an iron worker, origi- 
nated " Germantown Waggons," in place of the heavy imported coaches. He 
built one, and his son John took up the business, " not long after the Revolu- 
tion." Mr. Bringhurst also was a large carriage builder. William Ashmead 
invented wrought iron moulds for j)loughs. La Fayette bought four of these 
ploughs for his estate. La Grange. Some one substituted cast iron for wrought 
iron. Jno. Ashmead, father of Albert, lived in No. 4774. He was a Friend, 
but fond of music. He saw the British army when a boy of twelve. He sat 
at his father's door as they passed down Main street, 20,000 strong. The order 
was comijlete. The Highlanders had kilts and plaids, the grenadiers were in 
scarlet and the loyal refugees in green. Cavalry and footmen and officers 
passed along with pomp ; but there was no display of colors and no music. 
" There was no violence." Ashmead's father gave the soldiers milk and cider, 
at their request, until an officer placed a sentinel before the house to stop the 
demand. " Capt. J. C. perhaps Craig " saw the soldiers later, headed by Corn- 
■wallis. Some Grenadiers addressed the boy in a brotherly way, and shook his 



66 GERMANTOWN. 

hand. Young Ashmead, at the battle, " took refuge in the cellar of Delaplaine's 
house, on the N. E. corner of Schoolhouse Lane." After the battle he secured 
an English and an American cannon-ball. Dr. William Ashmead has the 
English one. The Revolutionary boy lived to the age of 83 and his wife 

to 87. 

THE DESHLER— WASHINGTON— MORRIS HOUSE. 

No. 4782 was built in 1772-3 by David Deshler, who had come here from 
Heidelburg, where his father, whose wife was a sister of Casper and John Wister, 
was an aide-de-camp to the reigning Prince. He was in successful business in 
Philadelphia. " As honest as David Deshler " was " an old saying." Mrs. 
Deshler bought a salve from a butcher, which was called " Butcher's Salve " 
and afterward " Deshler's Salve." Dr. Wistar put the recipe in his Pharma- 
copoeia. " Adam Deshler, perhaps a cousin of David, also came here, and has 
left descendants. One of these is Mr. William G. Deshler, a resident of Colum- 
bus, Ohio." David Deshler's wife, Mary, was a granddaughter of Madame 
Mary Ferree, a French Huguenot widow, who owned much land in Pequea 
Valley, where a Huguenot settlement arose, favored by the Indian King Tan- 
awa. David Deshler's daughter, Mary, married Ellis Lewis in 1763. Owen 
Lewis, a Friend, in Wales, was the ancestor of Ellis Lewis. His residence was 
" Tyddjm y Gareg, near Dolegelle, in Merionethshire." The late Chief Justice 
Ellis Lewis is descended from Owen Lewis, " and the present Mr. David Lewis, 
so well known in Philadelphia, is of the same line." Rev. William P. Lewis, 
is a son of David Lewis. Sir William Howe was the occupant of Deshler's 
house for a time. David Deshler dressed in " olive-coloured silk velvet, with 
knee buckles and silk stockings, bright silver shoe buckles and the usual three- 
looped hat — a costume that well became his handsome face and manly form." 
His wife died in the Revolutionary days, but he lived until 1792. The wife 
never lived in the Gerraantown house, but Mrs. Moses Dillon, her grand- 
daughter informs me that she died in Philadelphia before the house was 
finished. David Deshler occupied it as a summer residence with his daughters 
and granddaughters. His will requested its sale to settle the estate. Col. 
Isaac Franks, a Revolutionarj^ officer, bought the house. He was cousin to the 
celebrated beauty. Miss Rebecca Franks, who married Sir Henry Johnson. 
Colonel Franks' wife was Mary Davidson. Judge Franks, of Reading, was 
his son. Col. Franks was ancestor of " some of the Jacobs of Lancaster 
county, and of a family named Davis, of Camden, N. J." During the yellow 
fever epidemic Washington rented the house of Col. Franks. 

In 1804 Elliston and John Perot bought the house as a summer residence. 
It is a tradition that a persecuted Huguenot ancestor of this family was pre- 
served alive in imprisonment by a hen laying an egg daily at the grated window 
of his French dungeon. The crest of the Perot coat of arms is a setting hen. 
The persecuted man came from the French Rochelle to New Rochelle, N. Y., 
where his son James was born. In 1710 James went to Bermuda and Elliston 



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GERMANTOWN. 69 

and John were born there, though they, after vicissitudes in the West Indies, 
settled in business in Philadelphia. Elliston's daughter, Hannah, "married 
Samuel B. Morris, of the old shipping firm of Wain & Morris, and he purchased 
the house in 1834." He was a descendant of Antony Morris. The present 
owner, Elliston Perot Morris, is a son of Samuel B. Morris. 

The house is of stone, with extensive back buildings. The front would have 
been wider, but a plum tree moved Deshler's heart, and he could not cut it 
down. There is a beautiful garden containing box trees of more than a cent- 
ury's growth. Jesse Wain took tea in this house with his schoolfellow, George 
Washington Parke Custis, by Washington's invitation. The house contains 
Washington's letter of thanks to Capt. Samuel Morris for the services of the 
First City Troop, and the "pitcher likeness" of Washington, presented by 
Captain Dunlap to Captain Morris. 

An informant writes : 

" The Deshler who built this house had a son ' Adam,' who had a son ' David 
Wagoner,' who had a son ' William Green,' who had a son ' John Green.' " 

The two last named are bankers in Columbus, Ohio. The " Manual of the 
Columbus Female Benevolent Society " for A. D. 1888, is a neatly-bound 
volume which indicates faithful Christian work to aid the needy. The Deshler 
family are well represented among its members. Mrs. Ann Eliza Sinks 
Deshler is in the list of " Names in Memorial." The President, Mrs. Mary J. 
Hubbard notes that Mr. William G. Deshler gave $33,000 to endow this Society 
as a memorial of a beloved daughter. The fund is styled, " The Kate Deshler 
Hunter Fund." Mrs. Hunter for many years lovingly taught in the Indus- 
trial School, showing practical charity. Mrs. John G. Deshler also willed $25, 
000 to this same good cause, and owing to legal complications about that will, 
Mr. William G. Deshler guaranteed the sum. 

One fund bears the name, " The Betsey Green Deshler Fund." It consists of 
$100,000 donated by Wm. G. Deshler in memory of his mother. That mother, 
when her neighbors suffered from sickness, failure of harvests, and business 
troubles in a new country, sympathized and aided as a christian wife and 
mother, and left letters indicating her desire to do more. These letters stirred 
the gift of the son in after years, and the buried seed bore precious fruit, and 
will continue to bear it. 

A portion of the income of this noble gift is to go to the " Hannah Neil 
Mission and Home of the Friendless," in Columbus. A very interesting 
Semi-Centennial address, by Mr. Deshler, reviewing the Christlike work of the 
Columbus Female Benevolent Society, is found at the close of the volume 
under review. 

The old Germantown house has a new interest as we consider the good work 
of those descended from its builder, and hope that many Germantowners may 
imitate such noble deeds. 



70 GERMANTOWN. 

FROM "THE HOMEMAKER" MAGAZINE. 

Historian, painter and poet have made familiar to us the story of the 
imprisoned Huguenot, condemned to die from starvation, who was kept alive 
by the seeming accident that a hen laid an egg daily on the sill of his grated 
window. From this French Perot descended Elliston Perot Morris, the pres- 
ent proprietor of the old house on the Germantown Road, which is the subject 
of this sketch. It was built in 1772 by a German, David Deshler, long and 
honorably known, as a Philadelphia merchant. A pleasant story goes that 
the facade of the solid stone matision would have been broader by some feet 
had the sylvan tastes of the owner allowed him to fell a fine plum tree that 
grew to the left of the proposed site. The garden was the marvel of the region 
during his occupancy of the country seat, and was flanked by thrifty orchards 
and vine3'ards. 

At Deshler's death in 1792, the Germantown estate passed into the hands of 
Colonel Isaac Franks, an officer who had served in the Revolutionary War. 
He had owned it but a year when the yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia, 
then the seat of the national government. Colonel Franks, with his family, 
retreated hurriedly to the higher ground and protecting mountain-barrier of 
Bethlehem, although Germantown was considered a safe refuge by the citizens 
of Philadelphia. On the eve of the Franks' flitting, the Colonel received a com- 
munication from Presideilt "Washington's man of affairs, offering to rent the 
commodious residence on the Old Road for the use of the President and his 
family. The patriotic cordiality with which the retired officer granted the re- 
quest did not carry him beyond the bounds of careful frugality. He made 
minute mention in his expeiise book of th^ cost of sweeping and garnishing 
the house for the reception of the distinguished guests, also of " cash paid for 
cleaning mj^ house and putting it in the same condition the President received 
it in." This last bill was $2.30. 

COST OF TRAVEL. 

From this account book we leai-n what were the expenses of transportation 
of Col. Franks and family back and forth to Bethlehem, and what was paid 
for the hired furnished lodgings in the mountain village. There were lost 
during the Summer of exile (presumably under Lady Washington's adminis- 
tration) " one flatiron, valued Is., one large fork, four plates, three ducks, four 
fowls," and consumed or wasted by the temporary tenants, " one bushel pota- 
toes and one cwt. of hay." These items swelled the bill for removals, hire of 
Bethlehem quarters, and rent of Germantown premises, to $131.56. 

The President, his wife, and their adopted children, George Washington 
Parke Custis and Nelly Custis, lived in health and peace in suburban quarters 
during the Summer of the pestilence. The boy went to school at the Old 
Academy, of which a cut is herewith given. A few days after the transfer of 
the executive party from town to country, a group of boys playing on the 



GERMANTOWN. 71 

pavement in front of the Academy parted to left and right, caps in hand, be- 
fore a majestic figure that paused at the foot of the steps. 

" Where is George Washington Parke Custis ? " demanded the General. 

Charles Wister, a Germantown boy, plucked up courage and voice and told 
where the great man's ward might be found. 

Another boy of the town, Jesse Wain, went home from school with Parke 
Custis one afternoon and played with him in the garden, until General Wash- 
ington came out of the back door and bade his adopted son " come into tea, 
and bring his young friend Math him." Nearly three-quarters of a century 
afterward an old man asked permission, upon revisiting Germantown to go 
into the tea or breakfast-room, back of the parlors in the Morris house, and 
sitting down there, recalled each incident of the never-to-be-forgotten "after- 
noon out." The grave kindness of the head of the household, the sweet 
placidity of the mistress and the merry schoolfellow whose liking had won 
for him this distinguished honor — ^this is the picture for which we are indebted 
to Mr. Wain's reminiscences. 

LADY WASHINGTON'S HYACINTHS. 

The hegira from Philadelphia must have taken place early in the Spring, 
for Lady Washington pleased herself, and interested her neighbors, by raising- 
hyacinths under globes of cut glass. There were six of these, and upon her 
return to Philadelphia she gave them to the young daughter of the deceased 
David Deshler, to whom she had taken an especial liking. A fragment of the 
glass is still treasured by a descendant of Catherine Deshler. 

The occupation of the Morris house by the President and his family is the 
incident in the history of the homestead which abides most vividly with us as 
we pass from one to another of rooms which are scarcely altered from what they 
were in his day. The walls are wainscoted up to the ceiling ; the central hall ; 
the fine staircase at the right ; the hinges mortised into the massive front door ; 
the wrought-iron latch, eighteen inches long, that falls into a stout hasp over 
the portal ; the partitions and low brows of the spacious chambers are the 
same as when the floors echoed to the tread of the Commander-in-Chief and 
ministers of state and finance discussed the weal of the infant nation with him 
who will never cease to be the nation's hero. 

We linger longest in the tea-room, which is the cosiest of the suite. The 
wide-throated chimnej^ is built diagonally across one corner ; the fireplace is 
surrounded by tiles of exceeding beaut}' and great age. In another corner, on 
the same side of the room, with a garden-ward window between it and the 
chimney, is a cupboard which was also here in 1793. Behind the glass doors 
of this cabinet are the cup and saucer and plate of old India blue china 
which were used on the evening of Jesse Wain's visit, with other choice bits of 
bric-a-brac. " The rear window, opening now upon a small conservatory, then 
looked upon a long grape arbor, running far down the garden." 



72 GERMANTOWN. 

THE WASHINGTONS AT TEA. 

Between the drawing-room door and this window — ^the fair, extensive 
pleasure grounds, sleeping in the afternoon sunshine, visible to all at the table 
— the Washingtons took their " dish of tea " in security, shadowed only by 
thoughts of the pleague-striken city, lying so near as to suggest sadder topics 
than the sweet-hearted hostess would willingly introduce. It is an idyllic 
domestic scene, and the lovelier for the cloudy background. 

The " pitcher-portrait " of "Washington in the possession of Mr. Morris was 
presented to his great-grandfather, Governor Samuel Morris, captain, during 
the War of the Revolution, of the First Cit)'^ Troop. These pitchers were 
made in France, and were tokens of the distinguished esteem of the General 
for those honored as the recipients. The likeness was considered so far 
superior to any other extant at that time that an order for duplicates was sent 
to Paris when the first supply was given away. Unfortunately, the model 
had been destroyed after the original requisition was filled, and the attempt 
to reproduce the design was unsatisfactory as to likeness and execution, a cir- 
cumstance- which enhances the value of the originals. 

Mr. Morris justly reckons as scarcely second in worth to his beautiful relic 
an autograph letter from Washington to his great-grandfather. Governor 
Morris, thanking him for the gallant service rendered in the War of Independ- 
ence by the First City Troop. Marion Harland. 

" No. 4784 was occupied by one of the Bringhurst family, related to the 
Ashmeads." Rev. Prof. Charles W. Schaeffer, formerly of St. Michael's Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church, resides there. He married a sister of Dr. William 
Ashmead. 

In No. 4788 Dr. William Ashmead lived many years. It is supposed that 
Mr. Morgan built it about the year 1790. Nathan Bunker often visited there. 
In 1806 Ann Morgan, Robert Wain and others sold it. Thomas Armat lived 
there. He was generous and kind. 

In A. D. 1742 Zinzendorf began the first Moravian school in this country in 
Germantown. (See Annals of Early Moravian Settlements in Georgia and 
Pennsylvania, p. 83.) He rented 4792, belonging to an Ashmead. Two 
Church Synods were held there. " Zinzendorf's fair daughter, the Countess 
Benigna," was a pupil. While in this house Zinzendorf gave up his title. 
The school opened in May and was moved to Bethlehem in June, where it yet 
flourishes. 

No. 4792 was the residence of James Ashmead, John's brother. " The Ash- 
meads came from Chelteham, England, in 1682." The first marriage in the 
family here was with a Sellers at Darby. They went to Cheltenham and 
thence to Germantown. A Jno. Ashmead built at 4790. The rear of the 
house stands, but the front was replaced about 1790. At present the occupant 
of Nos. 4790 and 4792 is a great-great-granddaughter of John Ashmead. 







VILLI A 
KERJHA 



PR 

GERriANTOWM 






GERMANTOWN. 75 

No. 4794, at the southern corner of School House Lane, was the site of a 
house pulled down by Dr. Bensell. In the old low frame house, lined with 
brick, Penn preached. It was built for Jacob Tellner, " one of the town magis- 
trates." Dr. George Bensell built the building that stood here before the 
Saving Fund built its handsome home, about 1 795. Charles W. Churchman 
and Dr. George Malin and the Workingmen's Club have at various times 
occupied it. 

School House Lane was called Bensell's Lane. 

Green street Ward attributes to the green sward before it was fully opened, 
and not to Green, the hatter, nor Gen. Greene. 

THE GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 

Was organized in 1760. Hilarius Becker was German teacher in 1761, and 
David James Dove, English teacher. Col. Graydon, in his Memoirs, relates 
how Dove, in Philadelphia, used to send boys with lighted lantern and bell in 
the day-time after late scholars. Pelatiah Webster taught after Dove. The 
British made the Academy a hospital. In the yellow fever of 1793 the Banks 
of North America and Pennsylvania used " the lower floor and cellar." The 
royal crown of England still surmounts the belfry vane. Rev. Mr. Travis and 
Horace Wemyss Smith have prepared a History of the Academy, which is 
printed. In the library is a spy-glass used by Washington. On the site of 
the next house west, David J. Dove strove to start his private school. In 1777 
the Magistrate Jno. Miller lived there and kept a Revolutionary diary. 
William Chancellor became owner of the house and used it as a summer 
residence. His grandson, Henry Chancellor, as Jno. J. Smith wrote Ward, 
once took the Broad Axe stage, running from that place in Montgomery 
county to Philadelphia through Germantown, and found that it stopped at the 
Rising Sun Hotel for breakfast in merelj' going to the city. If one missed the 
Bethlehem or Broad Axe stage he had to defer his trip to the city to the next 
day. This was just before the railway was opened in 1832. 

Dr. Frailey, a water-cure doctor, lived in an old stone house on School 
House Lane, beyond Chancellor's. On each side of the house were lines of 
German poetry, painted in oil colors. Beyond Dr. Frailey's in " Ashmead's 
Field near the woods," were the huts of the Hessians, being rails covered with 
straw and grass sod. Those of the officers " had wicker doors, with a glass 
light." The chimneys were of grass. " One of these Hessians afterwards be- 
came AVashington's coachman." 

" Jno. Coulter, an East India merchant, and a director of the United States 
Bank," owned one hundred acres east of Township Line Road, and south 
" from School House Lane to beyond Indian Queen Lane." At the southeast 
corner of School House Lane and the Township Line Road, on this propertj'- 
is now the handsome seat of Mr. E. W. Clark. 

Returning to the avenue we pass along the northern side of the lane. 



76 GEEMANTOWN. 

Ekrata. — In the last hist oxical article on "Ancient Germantown," the fol- 
lowing corrections are to be made : ' Squire Baynton did not live in the brick 
house next to Harlan's (No. 4630), but his daughter went there after his death. 
Mr. Conyngham did not build the Hacker house, but a Mr. Forbes, who owned 
property in that neighborhood. Christopher Sauer, and not Mr. Bullock, 
built Rev. Dr. Albert's house on the corner of Queen Lane. Mr. Binel never 
lived there, but at the corner of Knox and Queen Lane. 

In continuing the abridgment of Mr. Ward, we note that the double house, 
No. 4651, east side of the street and " next south of the site of Sauer's ancient 
place, belongs to the estate of the late Charles Ashmead." The widow of Peter 
Grayson Washington, who was the Revolutionary Gen. William McPherson's 
daughter, once lived there with two daughters. The McPherson Blues were 
named after the General. Mr. Washington had been Assistant Secretary of 
the United States Treasury. 

" About fifty years ago Anthony Gilbert, a village blacksmith, lived in the 
rugged looking stone house, No. 4665, belonging to the estate of the late 
Charles J. Wister, and next north of ' Wister's Big House.' " 

No. 4667 is the site once occupied by " an antiquated low building." Here 
lived a family named Frey. Johannes Frey, a German, died in 1765 and was 
"buried in the 'Lower Burying Ground.'" The epitaph in German is thus 
Anglicised : 

" I was called Free, hut now 

Have I become truly Free, 

Live free from sin, then will you be as I am Free indeed." 

The double stone house, Nos. 4669 and 4671, was the Germantown Bank, 
and its cashier, Jno. F. Watson, " the noted Annalist of Philadelphia," lived in 
it. Watson says that Generals Washington, Knox and Greene slept in it " one 
or two nights." The British also occupied it and held a court martial in the 
parlor upstairs. William Gerhard de Braham, Surveyor General of His 
Majesty, dwelt here. He wrote the " American Military Pocket Atlas," and 
the " Atlantic Pilot." During the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 Thomas 
Jefferson and Edmund Randolph, Attorney General, occupied the house. 
Afterward Richard Baylej^, an Englishman, owned and dwelt in it. Mr. 
Bayley was a fine singer. Watson did most of his difficult work in this house. 
He could not locate places as well as now, since the late -Jno. McAllister, Jr.'s, 
system of numbering houses has been adopted. 

Ward reminds us that Lieutenant Danenhower, of Arctic fame, was of the 
Germantown family. 

On the site of No. 4677, southeast corner of Shoemaker's Lane, stood the 
residence of Miss Molly Donaldson, and her nieces, Sally Donaldson and 
Rosanna Roe. Miss Donaldson was the hospitable daughter of a Rev.olutionary 
officer. Her colored girl, " Lize," would often give the pleasant summons : 
Missis Donaldson sends her 'spects to Mr. Wister, and wants him to please 




SHOEMAKER'S FIRST FARM, FROM WATSON'S ANNALS, BY PER- 
MISSION OF EDWIN S. STUART, PUBLISHER. 



GERMANTOWN. 77 

come in and smoke a cigar with Dr. Bensell." Messrs. Charles J. and John 
Wister, Richard Bayley and William Chancellor used to be invited to her 
suppers. 

" Sarah Schumacher, a widow, with several children, from Kresheim, in the 
Palatinate, came to Philadelphia on the 20th of March, 1686." She lived in 
Germantown, where her relatives were already settled. Her son, Isaac, married 
Gerhard Hendricks' only child, named Sarah. She was born in 1678. Hen- 
dricks drew Lot No. 8, " east side of the road, and David Sherkger the adjoin- 
ing lot to the north, which for some reason bore the same number." In 1714 
Isaac Shoemaker owned both lots. 

It is probable that Gerhard Hendricks built the first house here, called " Rock 
House," or "Rock Hall," on "the north side of Shoemaker's Lane, ju,st to the 
east of the railroad." It is seen in passing Wingohocking station. In that 
house, or on the I'ock near by, William Penn preached. Another very old 
house stood near this one till about 1835. It was a one-story .stone house, and 
straw had been mixed with the mortar. It " had a very high, peaked roof," 
which itself " contained two stories and a loft." It was said that Penn was a 
guest and preached in this house. Perhaps this was Gerhard Hendricks' man- 
sion. William Logan Fisher bought the property and called it " Shelbourne." 
■ Isaac Shoemaker may have built the large house which stood till 1843 on Main 
street, northeast corner of Shoemaker's Lane. It was a long two-story build- 
ing of stone, with a main entrance from the rear, old country fashion, while 
the cellar was entered from the street. 

" Isaac Shoemaker died in 1732, and his son, Benjamin, and grandson, 
Samuel, were successively Mayors of Philadelphia. A great-grand daughter was 
the wife of William Rawle." Samuel married Francis Rawle's widoAv, who 
received a place called Laurel Hill from her first husband. The cemetery is 
"a mile or so above it." Samuel owned the Duval place, now owned by Amos 
R. Little. Before the Revolution the Shoemaker's lane house " was for a time 
the country residence of Samuel Burge, whose daughter married William 
Rawle." The British used it as a hospital under Dr. Moore. 

Samuel Shoemaker was loyal to England, and his property was confiscated, 
but he generously " exerted himself for the relief of Americans " held as Brit- 
ish prisoners in New York, and " secured the liberation of numbers of them." 
In London he kept a diary. See Pennsylvania Magazine of History, \o\. 2, for 
" an account of his interview with George III. He returned to Philadelphia 
in -1789 and died in 1800." James Parr bought the life estate in the confis- 
cated Laurel Hill and leased it to Chevalier de la Luzerne. 

Benjamin Shoemaker, a son of Samuel, occupied the Germantown house. 
He died in 1808. " His only daughter, Anna, married Robert i\Iorris, son of 
the Financier, and was therefore the mother of the present Dr. Robert Morris." 
One of her daughters was Mrs. Malsam, an intimate friend of Miss Ann 
Ridgway, who became Mrs. Dr. James Rush. Mrs. Wilkins, of Georgia, was 



78 GERMANTOWN. 

another daughter. She and her husband and family were lost at sea when 
coming from Savannah, intending to take up their residence in the Shoemaker 
mansion, " a few years before it was sold to G. H. Thomson." After Robert 
Morris died Mrs. Morris married Mr. Bloodgood, of Albany. She was remarka- 
ble for her beauty, even in old age. 

Benjamin Shoemaker had three sons who died childless, and the name is 
lost among Isaac's descendants. One of these sons, named Benjamin, was 
unusually intelligent and brave. He and Charles J. Wister walked to Phila- 
delphia during the yellow fever period of 1798. The lads found barricaded 
streets ; and the stillness and the dreadful dead cart made a deep impression 
on them. 

In 1841 the Shoemaker house was occupied by the de la Roche family and a 
son-in-law by the name of Croskey. The Misses Lorain kept a school here, 
and " it is said that Miss Adele Sigoigne jaassed a summer there." She had a 
ladies' school " of great note, which her mother established on Washington 
Square. Madame- Sigoigne, whose sister was the wife of the first Dr. La Roche, 
escaped with them from the massacre in St. Domingo." His son, Dr. Rene La 
Roche, was noted for a knowledge of music. He wrote a voluminous history 
of the yellow fever. "His daughter Susan married Dr. Wm. V. Keating, 
descended from an Irish family which adhered to James II." 

Of late " the remnant of the Shoemaker property, some twenty-five acres, 
was known as the place of George H. Thomson." Mehl's beautiful meadow 
was a part of it. Some of the British cavalry had huts in it. " The glory of 
Wingohocking has now departed." Ward mourns for the beaver dams which 
a culvert now replaces. The old Shoemaker house is gone. Cottage Row is 
on a part of its site. The houses stand back and are numbered 4703 to 4717. 
" The first of these is the residence of Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, who succeeded his 
father as Librarian of the Philadelphia Library. The last is that of the aged 
and venerable Mr. Daniel B. Smith, now the oldest member of the historical 
Society." 

Mr. Thomson built a handsome house on the Lane, and others arose. Lloj'd 
Mifflin lived on the Lane. He died at the age of 93, and Miss Betsey Wistar 
succeeded him in the house. She died at the age of 92, and Mr. Marmaduke 
CojDC occupies the house now. Mr. Mifflin invented a machine for weaving 
carpets, and " an ingeniously contrived sun-dial." 

Mr. Robert P. Morton, son of Dr. Samuel George Morton, " craniologist," 
and William T. Richards, " the artist," reside on the Lane. Also Francis 
Rawle, who married Miss Aertsen, and George Willing, who married Miss 
Shippen, have erected houses on this lane. East of Hancock street is Thomas 
MacKellar's place. Here are ancient trees, fifteen feet in circumference, and 
over one hundred feet high, "topping all others in Germantown." 



GERMANTOWN. 79 

" On Shoemaker's lane stands the admirable Germantown Hospital, whioh 
will preserve the name of Mrs. Pauline Henry better than any bronze that 
was ever cast." The present writer must add to Ward's words the good work 
of this benevolent lady in building the beautiful Episcopal Church named 
the Memorial Church of St. Luke, the Beloved Physician, Bustleton, as a 
memorial to her husband. It commemorates the dead and blesses the living. 
May many erect such useful monuments. 

Across the country from the Germantown Hospital, " are the new Jewish 
Orphan Asylum, and the large house of the ' Little Sisters of the Poor.' 
To the southeast, on Duy's lane, is to be seen on a prominence the rather 
striking looking house of Mr. William Rotch Wister." 

A small old house stood on Main street, next north of the Shoemaker prop- 
erty. Leonard Nutz owned it 'and the tannery along side. Count Baldusky 
occupied this house. He " was a French Emigrant of the Reign of Terror." 
He was a starch maker, but retained some French elegance in his adversity- 
The Count became ill one night. Dr. Bensell was summoned. A silk counter- 
pane covered the invalid. A small sword hung over his head. The Doctor 
advised bleeding. The Count told the Doctor if a drop of blood fell on the 
counterpane he would " run him through." A flickering candle held by a 
servant lighted the tremulous physician. The blood "spurting into the flame 
of the candle, extinguished it." The Doctor rushed down stairs and the 
Count followed him, sword in hand, with his servant. The Count " tripped 
and fell headlong, with the servant on top of him, in the entry. Dr. Bensell 
escajjed, but he lost his patient — not, however, by death." 

"Dr. Runkle, Captain of the Germantown Blues," lived in the Nutz house at 
a later date. His father was pastor of the Market Square Church. " Mr. 
William Wynne Wister remembers having seen him leading his redoubtable 
band on its way to Camp Dupont in the ' late war,' as that of 1812 is still 
called by aged persons." 

About where Tarr's store is, No. 4733, southeast corner of East Coulter and 
Main streets, " was the residence of John Book," a preacher among the Friends. 
In preaching he quivered with excitement. His daughter, Louisa, had a 
children's school here, and made Quaker bonnets. 

Next was Waterman's house, now gone. " It stood where East Coulter street 
now begins." 

About here lived the widow, Granny Bische, " in her early years." She 
sold apples from trees on her own place, " about where Tulpehocken street 
now is, and to which she subsequently removed." 

Then came the shoemaker, Ulrich Freihoffer's house. " The aged Hands- 
berry," heretofore mentioned, "served his time" with him. James Jones's 
store is on the site, Nos. 4737 and 4739. 

The double stone house, Nos. 4747 and 4749, next south of St. Luke's en- 
trance, was owned and occupied by Dr. Runkle. Abraham Keyser, and his 



80 GERMANTOWN. 

cousin, Charles Keyser, lived in it. Later it was the " King property." Mr. 
King married Jabez Gates's sister. St. Luke's Church now owns the house. 

St. Luke's Episcopal Church "is the parent of the five other Episcopal 
churches which are now in Germantown." It stands back, but has " ample 
grounds." St. Luke's was organized in 1811, though services were held long 
before. Rev. Mr. Neill, a Church of England missionary at Oxford and White- 
marsh, lost his "glebe house by fire in 1760, which led him to seek a tempo- 
rary residence in Germantown." At the request of some " English people " he 
preached in the evenings in the Lutheran and Calvinist Churches. German- 
town had but one Church of England family, but most of the young people 
understood English. The British army chaplains probably held services in 
some church or churches. The chaplains of the Hessians " preached in the 
Lutheran Church." • 

In 1793 the yellow fever brought many strangers to Germantown. Then 
the Episcopalians " held services in the Market Square Church, for Samuel 
Breck remembered that Dr. Smith, of the Falls of Schuylkill, went there to 
preach." It is supposed that Rev. Mr. Scott held services in tliat church on 
June S, 1811. The church then contained about twelve families in and about 
Germantown. On June 28, A. D. 1811, "a meeting was held at the house of 
Thouias Armat. He was made President; Daniel Lammat, Secretary; and 
James Stokes, Treasurer, and the meeting resulted in the organization of the 
congregation of St. Luke's." For the first year Rev. Jackson Kemper, Assistant 
Rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's and St. James's Churches, chiefly per- 
formed the services. He afterward became our first Missionary Bishop, and 
after, by untiring labor, bringing several dioceses into union with the General 
Convention, was Bishop of Wisconsin. In 18] 2 Rev. Mr. Warren, of South Caro- 
lina, passed the summer in Germantown, and served the parish three months. 
Many South Carolinians then spent the summer in Philadelphia and owned 
houses. The north side of Spruce street, from Tenth almost to Ninth, was called 
South Carolina. Rev. Mr. Ward, in 1813, followed Mr. Warren, remaining 
five months and then going to Lexington, Ky. Rev. J. C. Clay held St. Luke's 
with Norristown from December, 1813, to February, 1817." The parish was 
organized under him in 1816 with sixteen communicants. Thomas Armat 
and James Stokes were its first representatives in the Diocesan Convention in 
1818. Dr. Clay was afterward the faithful Rector of Gloria Dei Church. Be- 
fore Rev. Mr. Ward's day the congregation met in the afternoons in the 
Market Square Church, but when a settled clergyman was secured the services 
were held in a house which James Stokes ofiFered on Market Square, opposite 
School House Lane." This proving too small, he supplied the house which 
"stands at the northeast corner of Market Square and Church Lane. Rev. 
S. H. Turner, D. D., afterward an honored and beloved Professor in the Gene- 
ral Theological Seminary was called. He then lived on the Eastern Shore of 



GERMANTOWN. 81 

Maryland. In 1817 the Rev. Charles M. Dupuy became the first Rector, and 
remained until 1824. In 1818 the sum of $5300 was subscribed for a building, 
and in that year, on ground which Thomas Armat presented, the first edifice 
of St. Luke's was erected." " It was enlarged in 1840," and again enlarged in 
1851. Rev. Edward R. Lippitt succeeded Mr. Dupuy, having charge "from 
March, 1824, to September, 1825, when the Rev. John Rodney was elected 
Rector. The ministry of this acceptable and venerable gentleman was con- 
tinued until 1867, when he became Emeritus Rector, which position he now 
holds at the age of eightyrnine years." Rev. Dr. C. F. Knight, of Lancaster 
(now Bishop of Wisconsin), was Assistant from October, 1854, to May, 1856. 
Rev. Dr. B. Wistar Morris, Bishop of Oregon, was Assistant fi'om January, 
1857, to November, 1867. " He married a niece of Mr. Rodney." Having 
declined a call to St. Peter's, Philadelphia, at Mr. Rodney's desire he was elected 
Rector, Mr. Rodney resigning. His rectorship ended in .January, 1869. Rev. 
Albra Wadleigh, of Williamsport, Pa., succeeded him." He died in 1873, having 
in a short time won " the warmest love of all his people, as well as the universal 
respect of the community." In 1865 the parish bought ground north of the 
church, on which " a most commodious parish building " was built. The 
property was " The Rookery," or " Pine Place," as large pine trees grew on it. 
During Mr. Wadleigh's rectorship St. Luke's purchased the ' King property.' " 
Rev. Dr. William R. Huntington, of Worcester, Mass., was elected Rector in 
August, 1873, but declining, on the 8th of October, following, the Rev. William 
H. Vibbert, then Professor of Hebrew at the Berkeley Divinity School, Middle- 
town, Conn., was elected. In his rectorship the new church was built. The 
last services in the old church were on May 2, 1875. The corner stone of the 
new church was laid June 26th of that year, and the new church was conse- 
crated by Bishop Stevens on June 8, 1876. " This building is a remarkably 
fine one, and all the workmanship is excellent. The windows are filled with 
stained glass, mostly memorials to John S. Littell, George H. Thomson, the 
Rev. Mr. Wadleigh, George W. Carpenter and others. The walls and ceilings 
are richly and tastefully decorated." It was finished without debt. Mr. James 
M. Aertsen, a warden, has collected materials for a history of the parish. The 
Rev. Samuel Upjohn, rector of St. Mark's Church, Augusta, Maine, entered 
upon the rectorship of St. Luke's Church, December 1, A. D. 1883. The aisles 
of the church have been tiled during the past year. A project is now on foot 
for securing a Rectory for the parish. 

No. 4755 was George Wilson's shoemaker's shop. He was postmaster. 
Next to the north lived Samuel Butcher, "toll-gate keeper at Chestnut Hill." 
Between Wilson's aud Butcher's is a court wherein lived two of the three 
generations of the now extinct name of Gravenstein, who were the hereditary 
sextons of St. Luke's. The family of the last one still lives there. The first 
one lived on Church Lane. 



82 GERMANTOWN. 

A double stone house, opposite the Friends' Meeting House, standing back, 
was the " Pine Place " or " The Rookery." The Masonic Hall stands there, 
numbered 4761 and 4763. The Post-office is on the first floor of 4763. Two 
ladies named Smart, formerly occupied " The Rookery." Thej^ were daughters 
of a British officer. One married Thomas Armat. "The other married the 
Rev. James Rooker, of Baltimore, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Ger- 
mantown, on which he went to the house to live, which led to its behig called 
'The Rookery,' a name that had almost faded away." After Mr. Rooker died 
A. Bronson Alcott had a school here. " Miss Alcott, authoress of ' Little 
Women,' was born there." Miss Sarah Rooker had a school and Charles J. 
Wister was her pupil. " At first it was at Barr's near John Wister's, but after- 
wards at Stuckert's, which, at a later time, was Charles Relf's house, a brick 
one of three stories, next north of ' The Rookery.' " There was open ground 
from Relf's on the north to Mill street or (Jhurch lane. Freddy Axe had a 
little shop at the corner of the lane, where boys could supply their wants. He 
was a cripple on crutches. 

Roberts' Mill was "on the north side of Church Lane, the present Mill 
street, or the ' Road to Luken's Mill,' as it was anciently called, just one mile 
northeast from Market Square. The mill jutted somewhat into the lane, and 
this together with its antique appearance, which is still remembered with de- 
light, produced the most picturesque effect known in Germantown." This first 
grist mill, in this vicinity, was built " in 1683, by Richard Townseud, an Eng- 
lish millwright, who came over in 1682 in the ship Welcome, along with William 
Penn, who aided in the enterprise by advances." Townsend in an address, 
speaks of his early difficulties in connection with this mill, and " the Providen- 
tial aids extended to him at the place." It was the only grain mill hereabouts, 
and very useful. Grists were carried " on men's backs, save one man, who had 
a bull so tame as to perform the labour." Mr. Townsend died about 1714. He 
left only one child, Mrs. Cook. Richard's brother Joseph, "was the ancestor 
of Mr. Joseph B., Henrj^ C. and J. Townsend." The beautiful and picturesque 
mill has departed, though Dr. Owen J. Wister strove to buy it for preservation. 
About the crossing of Mill street and Township Line Road is " Roberts' School- 
house," " a benefaction in whole or in part, of one of the family of that name. 
Spencer Roberts' farm was in the vicinitj^, and on it was the grave of Godfrey, 
whose name is imperishably associated with Germantown. " 

" Thomas Godfrey, inventor of the quadrant, was born in 1704, on the fam- 
ily farm, which lies somewhat to the east of the old mill." A book on mathemat- 
ics, early in life, turned his studies that way. He learned Latin to read Newton's 
Principia. He studied optics and astronomj' with pleasure, though " his trade 
was that of a painter and glazier." When working at Stenton " a piece of 
fallen glass suggested an idea, and he sought a volume of Newton in James 
Logan's library. Logan •" was pleased with Godfrey's ingenuity." " The 
Quadrant was produced. As early as 1730 he lent it to Joshua Fisher, for 
his trial surveys of the Delaware Bay and River." In Fisher's survey with 



GERMANTOWN. 83 

this instrument Cape Henlopen differs but ten miles from the resuUs of the 
Coast Survey. " On the family farm the graves of the Godfreys were marked 
by headstones, one as early as 1705. About the year 1840 the remains of 
Godfre}'' were removed thence to Laurel Hill, where a monument with an 
appropriate inscription marks the place of their reinterment." 

No. 4781 is a large two-story brick house. The upper story extends north- 
ward, and includes a part of the adjoining house, and there is or was a com- 
municating door from the entry, so that the two houses have been occupied 
by one family. The United States Bank used it in the Yellow Fever of '93. 
" Massive vaults have been constructed in the cellar, to which the treasure was 
conveyed, escorted by a troop of cavalry. This is the house which was used 
by the congregation of St. Luke's for five years." Mr. Billings afterwards 
dwelt it it. He married a sister of Dr. Bensell. " Their daughter vied in 
beauty with MissRoberdeau. Charles Biddle married a daughter of James 
Stokes, and had the house, for the summer only at first, for several years. 
He was a son of Charles Biddle, Vice President of Pennsylvania, while Frank- 
lin was President, and brother of Nicholas Biddle, President of the Second 
Bank of the United States. His son is the present James S. Biddle, formerly 
a Lieutenant in the Navy. Godfrey Twells married a daughter of James 
Stokes, and then lived there." Mr. John S. Twells was a son of Godfrey 
Twells. He resided here at one time, but now lives in Woodbury, N. J. The 
Misses Stevens and Aertsen had a school here. The Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation now occupy the house. 

No. 4783 belonged to James Stokes. " It was for a time the place of resi- 
dence of the pastor of the Market Square Church. Mrs. Leonard, a grand- 
daughter of Mr. Stokes, occupied it for a time." 

We add to Ward's sketch a narrative from the Germantown Daily' 
Independent, of July 31, 1889 : 

STOKES'S MILL. 

Yesterday morning the workmen engaged in tearing down the cellar walls 
of the Seminole Hall, formerly known as Stokes' Hall, on Mill street, came 
across a sealed bottle, covered with tin foil, that had been walled in a brick 
pocket, about eighteen inches above the cellar floor. It was expected that there 
was a stone or receptacle of some kind, containing records of the erection of 
this old structure, which was built for a steam grist mill, by the late Wyndham 
H. Stokes, in 1838, but nothing was found until yesterday, and this was by the 
merest accident, as a small wine bottle, might easily have been crushed, and 
the papers, containing a history of the erection of the first steam grist mill in 
Pennsylvania would be buried beneath the debris. 

When the bottle was found, everyone standing around was anxious to see 
what it contained. Orfa Jordan, the architect, who drew the plans for the new 



84 GERMANTOWN. 

hall, to be erected on the site of the old structure, and who has had charge of 
the demolition of the old hall, broke open the glass receptacle and found 
several shinplasters such as were in circulation about the year 1838, and three 
pieces of parchment. On one was written the names of the Township officers 
of Germantown, the parties who worked on the Stokes mill, the wages paid in 
those days, the price of provisions, the value of land on the Main street and 
back lanes, and other matters that will prove quite interesting to our readers. 

Ever since the workmen commenced razing the old building there has been 
considerable discussion as to the exact date of its erection, and the discovery 
of the bottle puts at rest all doubts in the matter. It was in this building, we 
believe that William N. Butcher, of the Guide, the first cadet of temperance, 
of Division No. 1, was initiated. Among the occupants of the building since 
its erection was the late Charles Spencer, where he carried on the hosiery 
business for some time prior to the erection of his first mill, on Cumberland 
street, in 1849. 

Wyndham H. Stokes, whose push and enterprise is set forth in one of the 
parchments, died on April 1, 1870. He was one of Germantown's leading citi- 
zens and for many years was President of the Mutual Insurance Company. 
He lived and died on the Old Stokes homestead, Main street, below Chelten 
avenue,, the site of the present Stokes block. The records and data contained 
in the several parchments follows : 

RECORD OF THE OLD MILL. 

" This record was made May 11, 1838. This is the first steam grist mill 
erected in the township of Germantown, owned by Wyndham H. Stokes. The 
carpenter, Jonathan Wolf; the mason, Isaac Glackens; the millwright, Joseph 
Randall ; the millei', John K. Hellings ; the superintendent, Jacob B. Bowman. 
The dimensions of this mill, 28 by 40, three stories high, with an engine of 
fifteen horse power. The vane, rod and ball were taken from the old German 
Reformed Church, and are one hundred and four years old. This new church 
now building is to have no spire, and as a relic this old vane is placed upon 
this mill. Journeymen who worked at this building : Millwrights — John 
Sheldrake, William Hartranft, William Coward. Masons — Philip Ditchy, John 
Shubert, George Fry, John Ruch, William Tuston; Laborers — Samuel Dove, 
John Harmon, William Kephart, David Charles, Peter Stroup, George Stroup, 
Jacob Stroup, Jr. Thomas Heap, plasterer ; Charles Cox, lumberman ; John 
Clark, burr builder. Wheat flour, |8 per barrel ; rye flour, $5.25 ; corn, per 
bushel, 80 cents ; oats, 45; wheat, $1.75; rye, 85; beef, 9 cents; mutton, 6c. ; 
veal, 8c. Farm land in the immediate neighborhood |200 per acre. Supposed 
cost of mill, when finished $6,000. Anthracite coal, per ton, $6 ; building lots 
on the lanes, 50c. per foot; on the Main street, $1; average 'depth, 200 feet. 
Township officers, are : Daniel Snyder, John Seibert, Jacob Peaver, Benjamin 
F. Topham. Justices of the Peace ; William Sommers and Chas. Donat, Super- 




CHAPEL' OF MARKET SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



GERMANTOWN. 85 

visors; Benj. Lehman, Jr., Wm. Grout, Samuel Keyser, Charles Bonsall, Jacob 
Derr and Joseph Dickinson. Overseer of the Poor, G. F. Stuckert ; John Smith, 
Daniel Billmeyer, Street Commissioners; Geo. Sommers, Jacob Haas, Con- 
stables. Population of the Township, five thousand five huiidred. There is 
two Lutheran, one Episcopalian, one German Reformed, one Presbyterian, one 
Methodist, one Baptist, one Dunkard, one Orthodox and one Hicksite Church, 
a bank and four incorporated academies, seventeen taverns, four lines of stages 
daily, and railroad cars five times a day to and from the city. Fare in 
the stages twenty-five cents, in the cars twenty-five cents. Wages for laboring 
men, one dollar per day ; carpenters, $1.50 ; masons, $1.75 ; millwrights, $1.62J ; 
burr builders, $1.75; millers, $25 per month; farm hands, $12 per month. 

There is quite a mania for raising silk in the township. How it will answer 
is unknown." 

JOHN F. WATSON ON STEAM. 

" This first steam mill in the county of Philadelphia, erected for the purpose 
of grinding grain, etc., done in this fruitful " age of experiments," awakens 
many thoughts. The mind is led out in wonder at the comtemplation of the 
possible future application of steam to the uses and benefits of man. In this 
same " Church lane," at Robert's mill, began the first grist mill (in 1683) in 
Philadelphia county ; and now in 1838, we behold this new device of steam 
agency for the benefit of the adjacent country. Most amazing invention ! from 
a cause now so obvious and familiar ! It is only by applying the principle seen 
in every house, which lifts the lid of the tea kettle and " boils over," — that 
machines have been devised whicli can pick up a pin, or rend an oak ; which 
combines the power of many giants with the plasticity that belongs to a lady's 
fair fingers ! Thanks to the names of Fitch, Evans and Fulton ! 

" Done at Germantown, this 11th day of May, 1838. 

" John F. Watson." 

W. H. STOKES'S ENTERPRISE. 

" W. H. Stokes, Esq., who has caused this stone to be laid here, on this the 
nth day of May, 1838, has gained for himself much credit through his enter- 
prising spirit, not onlj^ for the erection of this the first steam grist mill in the 
place, which is more for the convenience of his neighbors than profit 
to himself. 

" Possessed of a good and public spirit, he has ever been watchful in guard- 
ing against encroachments of corporations or of individuals upon their 
neighbors or the public, and instrumental in obtaining many praiseworthy 
enactments of the Legislature of this State, of which he has been a member, 
all of which tend for the general good and convenience of the inhabitants of 
this place, some of which are, viz. : Paving the footpaths from the 5 mile to the 
7 mile stone, and preventing the turnpike company from piling loose stones 
along the sides of the road. 



86 GERMANTOWN. 

" And in short he has ever been awake for the interest of the place and the 
good of the people ; a friend to the poor, though quite wealthy himself, and a 
prop to the Episcopal Church. 

" By request of the undersigned who keeps store opposite the Market Square^ 
this was permitted to be placed in this bottle by his friend. 

Charles F. Ashmead." 

SHINPLASTEES FOUND. 

A shinplaster for 25 cents, of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company, of Phila- 
delphia, bearing interest at the rate of one per cent per annum. On the back 
was the following, written in bold legible hand : " James Ashmead, storekeeper 
for forty years, Germantown oj^posite the Market House. Was present May 
11, 1838." A five-cent shinplaster, of the Girard Loan Company, office 398 
Market street, Girard Row, Philadelphia. Another of six and a quarter cents 
of the Girard Manufacturing Company ; one of five cents, of the Village of 
Port Deposit, Md. ; one of fifty cents, of the Tradesmen's and Mechanics' Loan 
Company, of Pennsylvania. 

The Presbyterian Church on Market Square was in care of the Rev. Mr- 
Cowan, its twentieth pastor, when Mr. Ward wrote. The church site was ob- 
tained in 1732 by the " High Dutch Reformed Congregation." They built a 
church in 1733. In 1762 they doubled the size of the building by a rear ad- 
dition. The ancient bell in the steeple summoned the people to prayers for 
over seventy years. When the church was taken down in 1838 to erect the 
present brick building, the late Charles J. Wister bought the bell. In 1874 
"his son of the same name" gave it to the church, "on the condition that it 
should be well taken care of, and not suffered to be lost, destroyed or sold. It 
was cast in 1725," bearing the German inscription, " Gott allein die Ehre " — 
" To God alone the Honour." The early dwellers in Germantown imagined 
that the old bell said : 

" Injun Jake, drove a stake." 

And also, 

Beggar's town, is coming down." 

The upper part of Germantown was called Beggar's town. The Dutch organ 
disappeared in the change of 1838, except the " Trumpet Angels in their 
golden glory," which the children thought made the music. John Minick, a 
member of the parish, preserved these relics. " In this church Count Zinzen- 
dorf preached his first sermon in America, on the 31st of December, 1741, and 
his last one, before his departure for Europe, on the 17th of June, 1742. The 
Moravians held a Synod there." The steeple of the old church had rifle bul- 
lets shot by the " Paxton Boys " at the " Weathercock." Mr. Charles J. Wister 
has the bullet-marked vane. 

In the battle of Germantown, the battalion of tall Virginians under Colonel 
Mathews, having been taken prisoners, were lodged in the church. In the 
battle " these Virginians had just before captured a party of British in the 



MARKET SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
For Cut of_;Original Building, Built 1733. (See Page 90.] 




A. D. 1839—1887. 




DEDICATED JUNE 17, 1888. 



GERMANTOWN. 89 

fog, and set up a great hurrah, which brought a greater force upon them, and 
caused their own capture." In this church, in the fever of '93, " Washington 
regularly worshiped, as often as there was English preaching, a service per- 
formed occasionally by Dr. Smith, an eminent Episcopal clergyman, Provost 
of the College of Philadelphia. It seems also to have been the practice of the 
General to attend the German service." 

" It is probable the first building had no organ, and that the bell hung on a 
tree. The enlarged building had a steeple where a bell was hung, and cer- 
tainly it had the organ and the angels." A sounding board was above the 
high, narrow pulpit. The present brick church was built in 1839. It was 
enlarged in 1857. "In 1882 a handsome parsonage on the north side was 
erected. Since Ward wrote this article Rev. J. Elliott Wright, D. D., has be- 
come the twenty-first pastor, having assumed charge of the parish in April, 
1883. During his pastorate, in 1884, a beautiful chapel was built, costing 
$16,000, exclusive of the ground. It is pleasant to say it was dedicated free 
of debt, so that inan could have no claim against the Lord's House. The style 
of the building corresponds to that of the pretty parsonage or manse. 

The church was rebuilt and a beautiful stone front added, during the 
pastorate of Dr. Wright. 

" John Bechtel, as a layman, preached from 1728, and regularly in this 
church, after it was built, until 1744. He prepared a catechism, beautifully 
printed by Franklin ; — one of the gems of the early Pennsylvania press. In 
1742 he was ordained by Bishop Mtcshman, of the Moravian Church. In 1746 
the Rev. Michael Schlatter, of St. Gall, Switzerland, was sent over by the 
Reformed Synod of Holland, to visit the 'Reformed Churches' here. He 
often preached in this one. His portrait and an engraving of his house at . 
Chestnut Hill, may be seen in the Historical Society's copy of his life by 
Harbaugh. In 1753 the Rev. Conrad Steiner took charge of the church, and 
also of that in Philadelphia. He kept a record, but only remained three years. 
He was succeeded by the Rev. William Stoy, who remained only one year. 
The Rev. John George Alsantz became the pastor in 1758, and remained five 
years, bringing about the enlargement of the building. In 1763 the Rev. F. 
C. Faber came and staid not longer than six years. In 1769 the Rev. Fred- 
erick Foring takes charge, and two years afterward his name appears along 
with those of the trustees, etc., in an Act of Incorporation granted by Thomas 
and Richard Penn. In 1772 the records indicate a change, when the Rev. T. 
C. Albertus Helfelstein followed in the list of ministers, and remained until 
1776. In the following year the Rev. Samuel Dabendorff began to make en- 
tries, and continued them until 1779. In this year the Rev. Mr. Helfelstein 
returns, and remains ten years. In 1790 the Rev. Frederick Hermann took 
the charge and continued it until 1801. In the following year the Rev. Will- 
iam Runkle, begfin his entries and continued them until 1806, followed by 
the Rev. Charles. Helfelstein, who appears to have remained until October, 
1810. About this time there was a movement to have the service in English. 



90 GERMANTOWN. 

This led to the withdrawal of those in favor of the change and to their forma- 
tion of the First Presbyterian Church of Germantown. On the 6th of May, 
1811, the Rev. Frederick William Van der Sloot makes his entries in the rec- 
ord, and continues them for a year or more, when the Rev. Casper Wach 
began his ministry, which lasted until 1824. In this latter year the Rev. 
John H. Smaltz became the pastor. He began to make entries in the record, 
in English, and as far as is known, he was the first to keep a record of the 
members. In 1830 the Rev. Albert Helfelstein, Jr., assumed charge of the 
church, and continued it until 1837, when he was succeeded by the Rev. 
Truman Osborn, who remained until 1841. It was during the time of the 
latter that the stone church was taken down. In 1842 the Rev. Jacob Helfel- 
stein commenced his pastorate, which lasted twenty -seven years, until 1869." 
In 1852 the pastor and people became " Independent," and continued so for 
three years. In 1856 they became Presbyterians. In February, 1870, Rev. 
Edward Payson Cowan, of Missouri, "was installed as pastor." 

COMMUNICATIONS. 



PROPERTY VALUE. 
[To the Editor of the Telegraph.] 

We, as old inhabitants of Germantown, have been much interested in the 
reminiscences of this old German settlement, and can not only look back to 
the time when our streets were lighted with such dim oil lamps as required 
a lantern to be carried when a visit to a neighbor was made, but to that also 
when property was to be bought at a marvelously reasonable price. For in- 
stance, in the 3^ear 1848 that tract of land which lies from the Main street to 
the Reading Railroad and from Shoemaker lane, now East Penn street, to 
Church lane, now Mill street, containing twenty-four acres, between 200 and 
300 feet front on Main and 2000 feet to Reading Railroad, with the yellow 
brick house on the corner, mentioned in the reminiscences, and some of the 
finest trees in the neighborhood interspersed over the lot, was offered to two 
Philadelphia " Friends," who had just removed to these suburbs, for thirteen 
hundred dollars, but they being over-ruled by some of their friends who con- 
sidered it would be a risk, and having the prudence of their sect, declined the 
offer. It was three years afterwards bought by George Thompson, for $15,000. 
In 1870 it was valued at |100,000, and in 1886 what do you think would be 
its value? h. 

G&rmantoivn. 

An Apparent Error. — A gentleman who has lived in Germantown for 63 
years points out an apparent error in a communication published last week 
and signed " H." The property in question extended probably from Penn to 
Coulter, as the streets are now called, and not to Mill street. The figures or 
the names are wrong and not knowing the address of the writer it is impossible 
to ask there for the proper correction. 




MARKET SQUARE AND CHURCH, FROM WATSON'S ANNALS, BY 
PERMISSION OF EDWIN S. STUART, PUBLISHER. 



GERMANTOWN. 93 

The Borough op Geemantown was incorporated in 1689. " In 1692 one- 
fourth of the acre reserved out of the front part of the Frankfort Company's 
lot was proposed to be exchanged with Paul Wulff for one whole acre," that is 
two half acres, one on the east and the other on the west side of the town. 

On January 25th, 1694-5, an order was issued for the erection of stocks. In 
1702, James De la Plaine was ordered to remove the old iron from the rotten 
frames of these stocks, and in 1 703, it was thus ordered : " Peter Schumacher and 
Isaac Schumacher shall arrange with workmen that a prison house and stocks 
be put up as soon as possible." In 1699 Edward Shippen and Anthony Morris 
issued a writ of quo warranto, in William Penn's name, " against Germantown 
for refusing to levy a tax for the support of Government." In 1701, " a tax 
was laid for the building of a prison, erection of a market, etc." The same 
year, " it was found good to start a school here in Germantown." Pastorius 
was the first teacher. Anthony Benezet, a Huguenot, also taught the school. 
"Several members of his family lie in the Lower Burying Ground." 

The half acre on the east side of Main street, procured by exchange from 
Wulff, is " Market Square," or " The Green," as it was formerly called. The 
whole acre was not secured. In 1703-4 the Bailiffs, etc., "for the common 
good and to purchase a place nearer the now midst or center of the said town, 
as also for and in consideration of four pounds current silver money of Penn- 
sylvania, to them in hand paid," " sold the remaining three-quarters of an acre 
of the first seat of Government to Paul Wulff. And on the same day," " imme- 
diately for the £4 was purchased from James De la Plaine, one-half acre, to wit : 
on Main street fourteen perches and on the cross street five and three-quarters 
perches broad ; this half acre is to be used as a Market Place and the Prison 
House, Stocks, Pound, etc., shall be built thereon." 

" An agreement was made with Herman Van Bon and James De la Plaine to 
build the prison house and stocks, each of them shall have three shillings, six 
pence per day and find themselves. The Pound was at the southeast corner of 
the Square, and the prison of logs near it." Adam Hogermoed, when German- 
town lost its charter, " bought the prison and ' moved it to where it now forms' 
part of Joseph Green's group of houses.' Green was a hatter on the east side of 
Main street, above Market Square." 

William Penn gave the Germantown people liberty " as a free gift, and so, of 
course," Ward says, " they did not value it." " They were averse to the duties 
of office to which they might be elected, and at last, about 1706, for want of a 
due election, the charter was lost." 

Pastorius could not "get men to serve in the general Court on account 
of ' conscience sake,' but he trusted that an expected arrival of immigrants 
might remedy it." The Government lasted fifteen years. 

In 1740 " Market Square was surveyed by ■ Benjamin Eastburn, Surveyor 
General of the Province." In 1741 the Market House was built. 1762 was 
a troublous year, and there were Indian massacres. This was the era of the 
Paxton Boys' invasion. 



94 GERMANTOWN. 

Ward speaks of some Indians as yet in Pennsylvania, and says that where 
the Allegheny river enters our State, on the border of New York, " there is an 
Indian territory of the extent of one square mile, which is the home of a few 
of the Cornplanter tribe." " In my early days," he adds, " I have met troops 
of this or the New York tribes, hunting in the northern part of the State. When, 
however, Philadelphia was the capital of the Federal Government, Indians 
occupied a considerable part of Pennsylvania, and often came hither in large 
numbers. It was their custom to stop in Germantown, and to come to Market 
Square for their meals. A table, often used for their dinners, is preserved by 
Dr. WiUiam Ashmead. The old Market House remained till our day. An 
Act of Assembly, 10th of April, 1848, authorized its demolition, but this did 
not occur till some years afterwards ; the same Act authorized the erection of 
the Town Hall." 

A notice of Abraham Kej'ser now appears. His father was a Deunkr, 
Abraham owned a place on Main street, opposite the Friends' Meeting-House 
grounds. At Quarterly meetings his house was open to entertain distant 
Friends. His neice, Susan Douglas, was hostess. 

Ward states that while he had spoken of John Stadelman, captain of the 
Germantown Blues, " in apparent connection with Camp Dupont and the War 
of 1812," that Dr. Runkle was then Captain, and Stadelman "attained that 
rank afterwards." 

" There is an ancient family in Spain named Ashmede, as I believe the name 
is spelled there, which is thought to be of Moorish origin. Some one had said 
the names, possibly, came from Achmet." Mr. Ashmead, M. P., who married 
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, is of the Germantown race. I would add that 
his brother is also a member of Parliament. 

In leaving the old busiest pai't of the town. Ward gives pictures of the seals 
of the borough in 1691, and Germantown Library in 1745. The first is a three- 
leaved clover with " Sigillum Germanopolitanum " surrounding it. The second 
contains the sun above open volumes and other devices, and the inscription 
" Scientiae Literatura Eesplendeut." 

When roads were poor the intercourse with the city was uncertain. Then 
there " were ' great stores ' in Germantown, in Frankford and along the road to 
Lancaster." Farmers sold produce to Stoneburner, Fry or Miller, in German- 
town, and could buy fish, seeds, groceries and dry goods. The stores were 
granaries and also cured pork and beef were sold, making raonej'. Turnpikes • 
hurt this trade. 

James Stokes, before 1812, counted in one daj' more than 500 wagons on 
the road, many of them Conestogas, having sometimes six or eight horses. 
Ward describes the simplicity of the early days. The half-doors were on the 
houses, and the uj^per part would be kept open usually. At funerals a herald 
would pass along, and standing on each threshold cry, " Thyself and family 
are bidden to the funeral of Dirck Hogermoed at three o'clock to-morrow." At 



GERMANTOWN. 95 

the funeral the mounted procession moved along, the wives riding on pillions 
behind their husbands, "to the burying ground to see their ancient comrades, 

' Each in his naiTow cell forever liid.' " 

Ward saw a reference to early funerals in Deborah Logan's Note Books, 
which showed that " at Dr. Franklin's burial the old custom of the body being 
carried to the grave by the ' watchmen ' of the city was not observed. On 
account of his illustrious career it was borne by prominent citizens." He adds 
" I have been told of an instance in Germantown of girls carrying the body of 
a companion to the grave, as was the custom in the city. Miss Eve speaks of 
it as a ' foolish custom for girls to prance through the streets without hats 
or bonnets.' " 

Our author finds romance in the ancient half-door : " When evening closed 
and night had come, some pretty Gretchen with her neat cap and short sleeves, 
leaned over the door at her accustomed place, and listened to the honey-vows 
of her lover Herman, who stole her heart as he sat upon the doorstep, his life 
divided between his love for her and for his pipe, a puff for the one and a sigh 
for the other." 

The closing of the lower half of the door kept out animals, but the open 
upper half admitted the air of Heaven. The inmate of the house could find 
rest in standing at the door, leaning upon the lower half, while he conversed 
with those without. 

An amusement of weighing pigs by placing stones in an opposite scale, and 
guessing at the weight of the stones is said to have been an ancient German- 
town pastime. Beef was then rare, and pork was largelj^ used, and hog-killing 
was an interesting time. 

The lots numered 9 and 10 were owned by Dirck Kolck and Wygert Lever- 
ing. Soon James De la Plaine becomes their owner. They contain 66j acres. 
Market Square came from the western end of one lot. 

No. 4801, N. E. corner of Germantown Road and School House Lane, is now 
fitted for business use. Originally it had a " strikingly antique and picturesque 
appearance." It was a stone house of two verj^ low stories, " with a far-pro- 
jecting belt-course or pent-house, dividing them, the roof is liipped." It was 
old and built "by, it can hardly be doubted, James De la Plaine." Mrs. 
William H. Fisher, " of New York, owns a portrait of Nicholas De la Plaine, 
painted in his advanced age. It is said he reached the term of one hundred 
and five years. A majestic face and vast and full-flowing beard reminds one 
of an ideal creation of Gustave Dore." He was a Huguenot. His son Nicholas 
"married Susanna Cresson, a Huguenot, of Ryswyck, in the New Netherlands." 
They are believed to be the parents of James, " who left New York for German- 
town." Whitefield preached " from the gallery " of De la Plaine's house " to the 
people assembled in Market Square." A later De la Plaine, named Joseph, 
" together with .John F. Watson, published some books, one of which in 1812, 
was Epitome Historiae Sacrae. Its preface contains a recommendation by J. 



96 GERMANTOWN. 

Thomas Carre, of Clermont College, which place afterwards became Jacob 
Ridgway's country seat, half-way between Germantown and Frankford." Let 
me add that the college was burned. The country house is seen from the 
connecting railroad near Potter's Oil Cloth Works, and on the same side of the 
railroad. There was also a recommendation by " F. H. Brosius of the college 
at Mount Airy. Professor John Sanderson, author of that charming book, 
' The American in Paris ' married a daughter of Mens. Carre, who came here 
from one of the West India Islands." 

Joseph De la Plaine wrote the " Repository of the Liyes and Portraits of 
Distinguished Americans." His wife was " Jane, granddaughter of William 
Livingston, Governor of New Jersey." John F. De la Plaine became Secre- 
tary of the American legation at Vienna. Geo. Patten De la Plaine of Madison, 
Wisconsin, belongs to the family. " The name is known in Wheeling," 
Nehemiah, a son of James, lived in Newport, Delaware. " His grandson, 
James, was collector of the Port at New Castle, and built a house in Wilming- 
ton, which he afterwards sold to James A. Bayard." Sophia De la Plaine was 
in Cuba when Lopez invaded it. She was imprisoned, " and published an 
account of her troubles " in 1852. 

In the Revolution, Squire Ferree owned and occupied the house. He 
married a De la Plaine. He was a relative of Mrs. David Deshler. In 1776 
the Pennsylvania Council of Safety ordered salt to be stored in Germantown.- 
James Biddle and Owen Biddle were to attend to the storage. An order 
appears that calls on Joseph Ferree to deliver 25 bushels "to John Mitchell, 
commissary for victualing the Navy." Another order for salt occurs, so it 
appears to have been in his care. Also there is an order " to deliver to Henry 
Huber one ton of saltpetre." 

Here is a noteworthy resolution : " Resolved, that Dr. Charles Bensel, Joseph 
Ferree and Leonard Stoneburner, be appointed to collect all the leaden window 
weights, clock weights, and other lead in Germantown and its neighborhood, 
for which the liberal price of six pence per pound will be allowed, and they 
are authorized to draw on this Board for the same." This is dated July 
8th, 1776. 

At the battle of Germantown John Ashmead, as a boy, " was, with the other 
children, placed by their father in the cellar of their house with a view to 
safety." John got the others to push him out. He went to Main street, and 
Squire Ferree saw him and took him to the cellar of his house, where he was 
kept till the battle closed. " After Squire Ferree's time the house was owned by a 
Fromberger." In his occupancy tea was handed to a cook f6r preparation, and 
she sent it to the table as boiled greens. James Stokes bought the place for a 
residence. He paid John Fromberger $6000 for the buildings and about three 
acres of ground, in 1799. In 1807 more purchases were made of joining lands. 
One entry in James Stokes's account shows that he sold Lorain's house and lot 
in 1803, to John Lorain, Sr., for $4000. 





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GERMANTOWN. 97 

" John Stokes was born at Bexley, Kent, in England, on Michaelmas Day, 
1724. He came to America in 1776, and to Philadelphia in 1780." He bought 
the " Old London Coffee House," still standing at the southwest corner of Front 
and Market streets." He became rich and retired to the Germantown house 
and died in 1781. North of the Stokes house there was a small stone house 
back from the street, with three hemlocks before it. Thomas Megargee, of the 
Bank of Germantown, lived in it. Then "some ladies of the Stokes family, 
who owned it, resided there. Joseph and Jacob Green, hatters, bought the 
property next to the north from Jacob Roset." "William Meredith, a baker, 
succeeded his father in the house next north, and then adjoining it, came 
Robert Thomas, a shoemaker. Here, in front of No. 4813, stood the old six- 
mile stone, planted in the year 1801, which, by reason of the city growing 
toward Germantown, was changed somewhere about the year 1840 to five 
miles. James Mcllvaine, a well digger, and who met his death in one, lived 
in the next house, and it was followed by that of David Harmer, a shoemaker." 
Then came the old jail which was moved to Adam Hogermoed's lot. " The 
jail stood until about 1850." Armat's, afterwards Bensell's meadow, was next 
on the north, extending to Laurel street, which was Grout's lane. " On its 
noi'th side was the coach-trimmer, Clement Bringhurst. And then came Mrs. 
Dungan, a widow, followed by George T. Stuckert, who was followed by Jacob 
Fry, a storekeeper and farmer." His property reached almost to the north side 
of the present Chelten avenue, joining Bowman's lot. 

The old railroad station is on " the southeast corner of Germantown avenue 
and Price street." This railroad connecting the old village and the city, affected 
Germantown greatly. In May '74 " the late Edward H. Bonsall, father of Mr. 
Spencer Bonsall, so long in the service of the Society (Historical) gave the 
Society reminiscences of the railroad and of Germantown. He was the second 
President of the railroad, and when he wrote "the last survivor of those 
engaged in the enterprise." " He lived in Germantown from 1819 to 1835, and 
more recently." He remembered the old town as " almost exclusively confined 
to the Main street, and he thought it probable that three-fourths of the 
inhabitants were descendants of the original German settlers." The majority 
of the older people spoke German — wrongly called " Pennsylvania Dutch " — 
as easily as English. In a circle of six miles, with Chew's House as a center, 
he thought, outside of Main street, there would not have been five houses 
superior to " an ordinary farm bouse." Probably there were not in the town 
"ten houses of genteel style less than thirty years old." 

In those days the town was quiet and unprogressive and isolated. Two- 
horse stages ran to the city twice daily, except when " an opposition line was 
put on for a time. On special occasions a four-horse stage was run. The 
Philadelphia stage office was the ' Old Rotterdam Inn,' on the west side of 
Third street, a few doors above Race. The times named for starting were 9 
A. M. and 3 P. M., but these hours were not rigidly adhered to. Four miles 
an hour, when they were going, was considered a good speed, but they made 



98 GERMANTOWN. 

up foi- this haste by stopping, often half an hour, at that agreeable watering 
place, the Rising Sun Inn." 

During this condition of things Edward H. Bonsall and "his friend, Joseph 
Leibert, a Moravian, of Bethlehem," with others, in 1827, visited Mauch Chunk 
and saw the marvelous Gravity Railroad, just built, the first railroad proper 
constructed " in the United States." On the return of the Germantowners 
" they soon became lions " with their wonderful accounts. A public meeting 
was held concerning a railroad to Germantowu. John. Edgar Thomson was 
engineer. The charter was given in 1830-31, and the company was organized 
in May, 1831. Jno. G. Watmough was President, and Edward H. Bonsall, 
Treasurer; David B. Douglass, of West Point, Chief Engineer. There was an 
excess of subscription for stock, so that " each of the five-share subscriptions 
had to be reduced to three shares." The intention was " not to cross the turn- 
pike at the present Wayne Station, but to keep the road on the west side of 
the town." It is said that Thomas R. Fisher, of Wakefield, was the means of 
having the crossing effected and having the road on the east side. In August 
a contract was made for five miles of road from Poplar street and the work be- 
gan. " In November, Edward H. Bonsall was elected President. On the 
"S^ 6th of June, 1832, the road was joyously opened, and with much ceremony." 
The Councils of New York were present, and there was great interest. The 
cars were from Baltimore. " They were drawn by horses, and made six trips 
a day between the city and the then terminus, which was just south of Shoe- 
inaker's lane," on the property of Mr. Charles J. Wister. 

" On the 23d of November following the first locomotive manufactured in 
the United States, ' Old Ironsides,' made by Matthias W. Baldwin, was placed 
on the road." It is still in existence, for its semi-centennial has just been 
celebrated. Mr. E. H. Kite, now a ticket agent, was a brakeman on the first 
train. The locomotive was a wonder, and the President used to go on the 



COMMUNICATION. 



ANCIENT GERMANTOWN. 
[To the Editor of the Telegraph.] 

A letter I received to-day, tells me you are publishing things relating to the 
old inhabitants and to the" houses they built in Germantown. The house No. 
4431 Germantown avenue was built. by Christopher Ottinger, my father, as I 
have been told, soon after he came out of the war of the Revolution, about 
1781. I heard him tell of the battle of Germantown and the whiz of the 
bullets; he fought in that battle. For his services as a soldier, a Land 
Warrant No. 80,027, issued to his widow, my mother ; in it he is ranked " non- 
commissioned officer." He volunteered before the age that would have sub- 
jected him to draft. My father afterwards was a master coachmaker, his shop 
was on the lot near by where our old house is. 

Erie, Pa. Douglass Ottinger. 




MATTHIAS W. BALDWIN. 
(See Appendix No. 2.) 



GERMANTOWN. . 101 

train to guard against accidents. He said that "Ninth street, from Pojilar to 
Green, appeared black from side to side with the dense mass of people gathered 
there to witness tlie action of the novel motive power." Farmers would come 
for miles to Germantown to see the train arrive. The late Daniel Smith, Jr., 
who lived considerably beyond ninety years, told Mr. Ward that he once went 
to the station at Ninth and Green streets to take the cars, but as the directors 
were to dine in Germantown the train had left a half hour before "the ap- 
pointed time." This was probably an exception. The railway carriages were 
long coaches with seats along the sides, as in the present street cars. The 
stock once sold for 37J cents a share, and it ran up to "considerably more 
than one hundred dollars." Price street is named after Eli K. Price. Dr. 
Samuel Betton lived in a house which stood on a part of the ground "occu- 
pied by the Railwa)' Station." 

Ward now asks his readers to return " to School House Lane, and walk along 
the western side of the avenue." 

On the northwest corner of School House Lane and Germantown Avenue is 
the Bank of Germantown. Here stood a stone hipped-roof house, "with 
pent-houses and low ceilings quairitly ornamented. It was erected early in 
the last century by Carl Benzelius, called here Charles Bensell." He was an 
educated man, being a son of a Swedish bishop at Upsal. Ward supposed 
that a tombstone in the Lower Burying Ground was his. " It is of Dr. Charles 
Bensell, born 11th of April, 1725; died 17th of March, 1795." About 1806 
wha:t was then " The Germantown Library " was kept in the Bensell house, 
and it " continued there until about forty years ago." " Boisbrun, a French 
emigrant," was librarian. His daughter succeeded him. With her the 
Library " seems to have ended." C!akes, candies and medicines were sold in 
the shop containing the Librarj'. " The old house was taken down about the 
year 1867, when the bank erected the present building." 

" As well as I have been able to make out, Carl Benzelius had a son, or per- 
haps a nephew, George, who died in 1765, leaving a widow, Anna Barbara. 
A son, Dr. Charles Bensell, built and lived in the large three-storied house of 
stone. No. 4804. It was perhajDS he, or it may have been his father, who, on 
the entry of the British, left with his family for Horsham." His furniture and 
medicines were destroyed or removed by the invaders. Lieutenant George 
Bell, of the English man-of-war Roebuck, having been taken jirisoner and 
paroled. Dr. Bensell was requested by the Council of Safety to "provide 
proper lodgings " for him. 

Ward here corrects himself, as in quoting Watson he had " supposed that 
Nos 4669-71 was the house he referred to. It appears he (Watson) formerly 
lived at No. 4804, and that the bank was there. [The bank was moved from 
the Bensell house to No. 4669, so it was at both places at different times. — 
c. J. w.] Some time afterward Paschall Coulter dwelt here. Still later Miss 
H. K. Lehm-an owned it. The third floor was once a single room, where the 



102 ■ GERMANTOWN. 

Odd Fellows met. The Workingmen's Club afterward used the building for 
several years. It had beautiful wainscoting and " ornamental woodwork," 
which " attracted much attention." Alterations destroyed this beauty. In 
the Lower Burying Ground is another grave marked " Dr. Charles Bensell, b. 
14th August, 1752, d. 15th July, 1796." This is no doubt that of the person 
mentioned above. " Besides Dr. Charles Bensell there was Dr. George Bensell, 
born in 1757. He was a son of Carl." 

" During the war. Dr. Bensell happened, one evening, to obtain early news 
of some American success. He went into the old church at Market Square, 
and seating himself at the organ he pealed forth therefrom a most triumphant 
air. The wondering neighbors quickly gathered at the place and soon heard 
the welcome news." 

Dr. George Bensell of modern times was " bred to mercantile life, but on the 
death of his brother he' studied medicine," and practised it. He was success- 
ful and built the large double house No. 4794, occupied by the Workingmen's 
Club when Ward wrote. He was highly intelligent, a genial companion 
and faithful friend, and an agreeable and beautiful man. " He married a 
woman noted for her horsemanship, Mary Robeson, daughter of Peter, of the 
Robeson Mills, at the mouth of the Wissahickon." The Doctor could not tell 
one horse from another and once bought back a horse "he had sold but a few 
hours before. He proudly paraded him before his wife as a superior animal, 
bought at a very moderate cost. Throwing open the window, Mrs. Bensell 
inquired, 'Why on earth had he brought the old pony back again ; and what 
did he mean to do with him ? ' Mr. John Jordan's father-in-law, Mr. Bell, of 
Bell's Mill, near Chestnut Hill, used to tell of often having seen this lady rid- 
ing across the country, following her father's pack of hounds." Her family 
entertained the First City Troop in 1794, after the campaign of the Whiskey 
Insurrection. They presented her a silver cup. In her youth she would 
break her father's colts on his farm on the Wissahickon. To the farm she 
returned after her husband's death. In her ninetieth year she took a ride on 
horseback. She died about 1856, aged ninety-six. 

Dr. Bensell had a inulatto boy, known as " Copper Ike," from his complexion. 
He used to carry a lantern before his master at night, through the rough foot- 
ways of the dark town. One stormy night the Doctor, on taking soundings^ 
found that his guide had led him into the gutter. 

The Doctor had a talent for drawing and poetry. He would send poetical 
invitations to dinner to Charles J. Wister, and receive like responses from him 
in verse. " He died in December, 1827, in the seventy-first year of his age- 
Two grandsons inherited the artistic talent spoken of, one of whom, George, is 
dead. The other, Edmund Birckhead Bensell, is a well-known artist, living 
at Mount Airy." 

The double stone house. No. 4806, in the yellow fever of 1793, became the 
capitol of Pennsylvania. Gov. Mifflin and Alex. J. Dallas, Secretary of the 
Commonwealth, were then there daily. " Early in this century, Benjamin 



GERMANTOWN. 105 

Davis, a Friend, resided in the house and had a school there. He added to 
this occupation the sale of books, of which he had a fair supply." His girls' 
school was " an excellent one, for he was a good classical scholar, and all the 
girls there studied the Latin language." His pupils loved him. He had two 
daughters. The one who died last bequeathed her propert}'- " of several thou- 
sand dollars to the ' Germantown Infant School,' which is now situated in 
Haines street and has recently passed its fiftieth anniversary." She must have 
loved her profession. -James E,. Gates, owns the house once occupied by the 
Davis family. " It was just about here, but perhaps further to the north, that 
Jedediah Strong, a Justice of the Peace, once lived." 

" The old ' King of Prussia Inn ' extends its ample front along the avenue, 
and bears upon successive parts the numbers, 4812, 4814 and 4816." Ward 
remarks that Carlyle would have been pleased to see so many tavern signs 
around Philadelphia bearing his hero's portrait. " This house, no doubt, like 
all the others, dates from the time of Frederick the Great. The first stage 
coach with an awning was run from the King of Prussia Inn to the George 
Inn, Second and Arch streets, Philadelphia, and was started, three times a 
week, by one Coleman." Before this time Ward found a coach noted thus ; 
" In 1726, the four-wheeled chaise formerly kept by David Evans was kept by 
Thomas Skelton, living on Chestnut street, near the Three Tuns Tavern. Mr- 
Skelton offered advantageous terms to those who were disposed to make adven- 
turous excursions six miles from the city. Where four persons went together 
they were allowed the privilege of going to Germantown for twelve shillings 
and six pence." 

Watson says that Gilbert Stuart painted an equestrian figure of Frederick the 
Great for this inn sign, desiring to be unknown in the matter, but afterwards 
the name of the inn was painted over the figure. " The sign is still preserved." 
Micliael Riter left the Indian Queen Inn, at Indian Queen Lane, for a time 
and " kept the King of Prussia." The Masonic fraternity then met in it. 
There were other landlords after Riter. In 1823 Tripler kept it. About 1834 
" it ceased to be used as an inn. Formerly, there was a large and very long 
barn in the rear of the inn, which, when the British were here, was used by 
them as a slaughter house." 

No. 4818, north of the inn, standing back, is " an attractive looking old 
house, built of stone." Mr. Jones, a Friend, once lived here, " afterwards it 
was occupied by Christian Lehman, a man of considerable note in the affairs 
of Germantown. He was a son of Godfryd, grandson of George, and great- 
. grandson of Henry Lehman. This latter was born about the year 1535, and 
became ' Steward of the Revenues ' of the Manor of the Borough of Trebgen, 
eight English miles from Dresden. Christian Lehman was born in Germanj^ 
in 1714, and in 1731, with his father, came here with a passport on parchment, 
elegantly engrossed with golden ink. In Germantown he became a Notary 
Public and Surveyor." 



106 GERMANTOWN. 

" In the year 1766 he copied in an excellent style the early plans of German- 
town, which Matthias Zimmerman had made in 1746. By this work Lehman 
has earned the gratitude of all who may desire to explore the earlier times of 
the ancient village." I may add that a copy of this work may be seen at the 
rooms of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. The descendants of Christian 
Lehman's son, Benjamin, live in the house next to the north. 

An advertisement in the Pennsylvania Chronicle, of April 12, 1768, shows 
that Germantown had good trees, and was proud of its climate. Christian 
Lehman advertises various trees, " Hyacinth roots and Tulip roots," in his 
nursery, and also his " house and place," which " would exceedingly well suit 
any West India or other gentleman for a pleasant, healthy and commodious 
country seat." He was ready also to prepare parcels of plants and seeds for 
transportation. 

" Mr. Robert K. Wright lived in Christian Lehman's old house for a time. 
John Moyer lived north of Benjamin Lehman, and owned much ground, 
which he sold to Wyndham Stokes, whose family built upon his land a large 
double house far back from the Main street. On the north is a property of the 
Langstroths, relatives of Benjamin Lehman. This, years ago, was George 
Riter's who owned stages. Afterward Alexander Armor, a carpenter, owned 
it. At the northeast corner of the Germantown road and Chelten avenue was 
William K. Fry's tinsmith shop. From it all the people of the village obtained 
their supplies in this line, and no complaint was ever heard." His tinware 
was excellent. Mr. Fry was a grandson of the Frey family mentioned before 
in these articles. Chelten avenue was to be named Market street. Its plan 
was approved by the Burgesses in 1852, though the confirmation of final dam- 
ages did not occur until 1857. "The western part of the avenue passed 
through Jesse Barr's farm." 

" About the beginning of this century there was one large piece of ground 
with a front on Main street, extending from about where Langstroth's property 
is northwardly to that of the Wister's at Vernon, opposite the railroad station. 
Chelten avenue now divides that old front about equally." Kurtz, a German, 
owned it. There was an orchard with excellent apples. Kurtz usually wore 
small clothes and a cocked hat, which gave him somewhat of a military look. 
Six dogs attended him on his walks. He had a large collection of military 
books. He bequeathed them " to a church in Germantown, but their where- 
abouts is not now known. His house, situated on the Main street, was long, 
low, and with pent-house and porch. Back of it there stood one of the ancient 
houses of Germantown. No stone appeared in the structure. It was two 
stories in height, and was built of staves and clay. Another building, per- 
haps a tool-house, was where, at one time, Miss Rooker had her school. These 
buildings were removed when Chelten avenue was opened." There is a plate 
of the house in the Magazine, which Ward acknowledges to be made from " a 
sketch by Mr. Charles J. Wister, who has done very much to rescue from oblivion 
the picturesque views of the olden time of Germantown." 



GERMANTOWN. 109 

Kurtz delighted in horticulture and botany. He had rare trees and plants 
and shrubs, but in 1864, a writer says, only "a huge English horse-chestnut" 
remained on the sidewalk. His plants were set without order, and so it was 
difficult to find their owner, who daily worked among them. He was gen- 
erous and never sold plants, but gave them freely. He died in 1816. He had 
many friends, among whom was Mathias Kin or Keen, who used to visit him. 
Mr. Thomas Meehan notices this man in the Qardener's Monthly, September, 
1864. Some German horticulturists emploj^ed him to collect seeds. From 
the trees collected by him, which were decaying in 1864, Mr. Meehan thought 
him " contemporary with William Bartram and Marshall, possibly even with 
John Bartram." Germantown had many trees collected by him. There was 
a Virgilia lutea probably seven feet in circumference, and a large Magnolia 
acumiyiata, nine feet in circumference, and perhaps eighty feet high, and, as 
was thought, as fine a specimen as its better known comrade in Marshall or 
the Bartram gardens." Also " a Pecan Nut, probably eighty feet high and 
six feet in circumference. But what was regarded as about the choicest thing 
of all was a Magnolia macerophylla, a noble specimen, which Kin, as it M^as said, 
brought in his saddle-bag wrapped in damp moss, from North Carolina. A 
fine American Yew with " its beautiful coral berries set off by its sap-green 
leaves was believed to have been introduced by Kin." 

Kin was fully six feet high, broad shouldered, with large bones, but thin and 
" the picture of Death." He dressed as an Indian and was called " The Wild 
Man." He loved the forest and spent years in exploring the North American 
wilds, acquiring the habits of wilderness life. He would send " seeds and 
plants " from Philadelphia to Europe and then resume his explorations. He 
died in 1825, having done much for his favorite Science. He bequeathed his 
effects to the Almshouse. His will speaks of his plants in the gardens of Peter 
Reyer in Sixth street, Mr. Lambert in Fifth street, and Mr. Wilkinson on the 
new Second street road, which were to be sold. It is thought that he owned a 
place "one mile from the city, where the Government road joins." He is 
described as " a man of great information," and " an original and honest, 
good man." 

Next to Kurtz's place north was John Christopher Meng's property. He was 
" born in Manheim, Germany, in the year 1697 ; he married Anna Dorothea 
Baumannin von Elsten, on the 2;)th of June, 1723." Ward saw their good 
credentials brought from their native land. They reached " this country in 
1728, in the ship Mortonhouse, Captain John Coultas." The house Meng lived 
in is now the tin shop. No. 4912. There was formerly a building north of, and 
connected with it, but back from the street. It was removed to make what is 
now the carriageway to Vernon. The meadow, or a part of it, and the old 
spring-house of Meng, are, however, still to be seen, for they have been pre- 
served by the late John Wister and his family. The property reached west 
beyond Green street. Apple trees that were on it still stand on the part now 
owned by Mr. Reed A. Williams. John Christopher Meng and his son John 



110 GERMANTOWN. 

Melchior Meng " were members and trustees of the church in Market Square 
and both were trustees of the old Academy ; Melchior Meng's children, sons 
and daughters, were educated there." Some poet of the day was deeply 
impressed by, this, for his song was, 

Melchior Meng! the bell doth ring, 
Melchior Meng, the school is in. 

I may add that in Travis and Smith's History of the Academy one of the 
Mengs is named as a subscriber to its funds. There was a saying in old time 
that " whenever Melchior Meng mowed his meadow it rained." 

Christopher had a son named John Meng, who died earl}\ He was " an 
artist of more than ordinary promise," being a portrait painter. He was born 
February 6th, 1734, and " died at the age of only twenty-one years, in one of 
the West India Islands. A portrait of his father and one of himself, a kit-kat, 
nicely painted, are in the possession of his kinsman, Mr. Charles S. Ogden." 

" Melchior Meng had ' a very fine garden,' and shared with Kurtz his friend- 
ship for Kin and his seeds. The immense Linden tree that stood in front of 
his place was certainly planted by him, as possibly were many others of the 
large trees which stood there. ' Meng's garden was much larger than Kurtz's, 
and while the latter paid the most attention to shrubs and plants, the former 
boasted of his very fine lot of trees, which at that time, was inferior to very 
few collections in the country.' Melchior Meiig died on the 13th of October, 
1812, in the eighty-seventh year of his age." 

" There is one thing about Meng's garden that is particularly gratifying. 
While Kurtz's has entirely disappeared, and most of the specimens of rare 
trees in most other old arboretums in the couiitry are fast being lost, with no 
friendly hand to replace them with younger ones, or to add new ones, this prop- 
erty has fallen into hands which know how to care for them. That part 
of Meng's property lying north of his house, which was nearly the whole of it, 
was purchased b}' the late John Wister, who added to and resided in the ample 
building there, and who called the place Vernon." 

Here we close our abridgment of the " Walks on the Germantown Road " 
with our interesting leader, Townsend Ward, with a sigh for his unexpected 
death ; but some of his manuscripts will still help to guide us as we walk alone, 
and as the younger shrubs and trees have grown from the 'old ones above 
spoken of, so may our new Walks be pleasant, as the result of his work, though 
lacking his special printed guidance. Certainly we must thank him heartily 
for past help before we proceed further. 

A CORRECTION. 



[To the Editor of the Telegraph.] 

In reading your Historical Article on Ancient Germantown, in a late paper, 
I notice there are one or two mistakes, and being a grandson of Peter Robeson, 



GERMANTOWN. Ill 

I take the liberty of telling you that Mary Robeson, wife of Dr. Bensell, was 
not a daughter of Peter Robesen, but was his sister and housekeeper at the time 
she married Dr. Bensell. Jonathan Robeson Moore. 

Philadelphia, Jan. 28, 1886. 

In closing Ward's abridgment and resuming the narrative, it is but proper 
to acknowledge the kindly aid of Mr. Charles J. Wister in the revision of 
that work. 

Among Ward's manuscripts was an extract in his handwriting from John 
David Schoepp's Travels in the United States of North America, East Florida 
and the Bahama Islands in A. D. 1783-4. The work is in German, and the 
interesting passage concerning Germantown, which will now be introduced, 
was translated by Miss Helen Bell. John D. Schoepf was Surgeon of the 
■German Auxiliary troops in the service of England, 1776 — 1783. He was one 
of the most enlightened and unprejudiced of foreign travelers in the United 
States. His work was published at Erlangen in 1788. 

" In the neighborhood of Philadelphia, in the direction of Germantown, 
there were still many sad traces of the war, in burned and ruined houses. The 
road to Germantown leads over a level, sandy, cla3'ey soil, and through a 
pleasant, open and well-cultivated country, dotted by numerous houses. Here, 
as well as along the beautiful Schuylkill, there are many pretty, tasteful 
country houses, which, however, in design are neither large nor substantial. 
We met many wagons going to market, drawn by four or more splendid 
horses, which were driven without reins, and merely by the words and whips of 
their drivers. 

"Germantown is only six English miles from Philadelphia; the place itself 
is between two and three miles long. All the houses stand off more or less from 
each other, and each one has around or near it its grounds, gardens and thrifty 
outbuildings. Most of the houses are well and substantially built of stone, 
and some indeed are really beautiful. One of the finest is the house at the 
northernend of the place, in which Col. Musgrove, in the autumn of 1776-77, 
with a company of British Light Infantry, defended himself so bravely against 
a large body of the American arnay. Germantown is indebted for its name 
and origin to a German colony, which was brought to Pennsylvania, by a 
Eranz Daniel Pastorius, of Weinheim, in the year 1685 (1683). The inhabit- 
ants are almost all Germans, with the exception of a few Quakers who have 
settled among them. They are employed in farming, and also in linen and 
woollen weaving and other manufactures; in particular, many common woollen 
stockings were formerly made here ; but not enough to supply even the fourth 
part of the country. It is asserted that America as yet does not produce as 
much wool as would supply each one of its inhabitants with a. single pair of 
stockings. There are many well-to-do people among the inhabitants; and 
much property and many houses here are owned by Philadelphians, who make 
use of this place as a summer resort ; and in general, on account of its nearness, 



112 GERMANTOWN. 

frequent excursions are made hither. On Sundays the whole road is covered 
with the wagons and carriages of the pleasure-riding Philadelphians. There 
is a Lutheran and a Reformed Church, and a Quaker Meeting House here. 
Some families of another sect, called Tamblers (Dunkers), live here also ; they 
wear beards and a simple dress, not, however, of the Quaker fashion. They 
are allied to the Anabaptists ; but I cannot say in what especial dogmas 
or opinions they differ from the latter, for it is difficult to distinguish the 
peculiarities of the many American religious sects from each other. 

" Beyond Germantown the ground becomes uneven and hilly, still consist- 
ing of the sandy clay, which now and then resembles the red earth of Jersey. 
A few loose pieces of rock along the road consisted of a sandy-slaty rock, 
in which was interspersed a great deal of mica. Similar rock occurs frequently 
in the neighborhood of Germantown and along the Schuylkill ; most of the 
houses in Germantown are built of it. 

" We staid over night on Chestnut Hill, two miles beyond Germantown, 
where there are two or three inns, besides some other dwellings. Chestnut 
Hill is one of a long ridge of hills, all of which are dry and barren, or at least 
require more labor and manuring in order to become productive than it is the 
custom of the country to bestow. The lower land around here brings in three 
and four times as much revenue as the barren acres of these limestone hills. 
On the other hand, from some places there is a beautiful view of the cultivated 
country, and of the ornament of the outstretched plain, the city of Philadelphia. 
These outlooks are sought in vain in many neighborhoods in the other parts 
of America. This view induced a Quaker, Mr. Elms, to erect a building here 
in the form of an ancient tall watch-tower. Such an uncommon building was 
so displeasing to the country people that, with one accord, they gave it the name 
of ' Elms' Folly ; ' but they frequently came to make use of the Foljly, and 
to enjoy, by payment of a small fee, the rare view from the roof of this building. 
From here can be seen, at the distance of several miles, the surroundings of 
Whitemarsh, where, securely encamped on the heights, General Washington, 
in the winter of 1778, bade defiance to General Howe." 

The death and burial of the Moravian Missionary spoken of as buried in the 
Lower Burying Ground is thus described in a note in the Pennsylvania 
Magazine of History : — 

" Christian Frederic Post, a well known missionary to the aboriginees of 
North and Central America, died in Germantown, April 29, 1785, and on the 
1st of May his remains were interred in the Lower Graveyard of that place, 
the Rev. William White, then rector of Christ Church, conducting the funeral 
service." This was Bishop White. . 

For the following sketch I am indebted to Mr. William A. Ulmer, of Ger- 
mantown. The house spoken of is seen from the railroad near Wayne 
Junction. Its modern roof makes it look like a very old man wearing a very 
iiew hat : 



GERMANTOWN. 113 

" There is, standing on the west side of Main street, at the extreme lower end 
of Germantown, a one and a half storied house, in which lived in Revolutionary 
times the maternal grandmother of William A. Ulmer — a life-long resident of 
Germantown— who distinctly remembers the old lady's descriptions of incidents 
connected with the battle which took place on the fourth of October, 1777. 

" When the cannonading began she was out in the yard feeding her 
chickens. She heard the whizzing of the shot as they flew over her head, and, 
thinking ' discretion the better part of valor,' she quickly returned to the house, 
locked windows and doors, and, with her sister, took refuge in the cellar, which 
all people considered the proper thing to do while the storm of battle was 
raging. 

" After the fight was over, and the British army had marched down to 
Philadelphia, two straggling 'Red Coats' entered the house and called for 
something to eat, which, of course, was given them. When they left they 
took all they could carry, regardless of the needs of the occupants of 
the house. 

" One of the men asked Mr. Ulmer's grandmother if ' the army had gone 
down yet?' In answering him she said, 'which army, the American or the 
British ? ' which greatly enraged the questioner, who drew his bayonet from 
its scabbard, and, rushing towards her, using language much more emphatic 
than polite, would no doubt have killed her on the spot had it not been for her 
sister and the soldier who forced him to forego his murderous design. Had 
she said the ' Royal ' army instead of the ' British ' army he would have been 
better pleased. 

"After the war was over this young woman married John Harchey, a 
German, who was a soldier in the American army. They took up their abode 
in the house still standing on the rock, on Shoemaker's lane (now Penn 
street), near the Wingohocking station, on the Germantown Railroad, and 
which, to this day, is known as the ' Rock House.' 

" In 1765 or '66 she was a school girl at the old Germantown Academy, as 
was also her daughter Sarah, the mother of Mr. Ulmer, about the year 1794. 
Mr. Ulmer spent all his school days at the same place, and his son, G. Linn 
Ulmer, now of Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., graduated at the time-honored 
Academy in .June, 1885, he being of the fourth generation, in a direct line, 
who attended the same school. 

" In the year 1793, when Washington occupied the house now owned by Mr. 
EUiston P. Morris, Mrs. Harchey was his next door neighbor, and for some 
little act of kindness done him by her he put into her hand a whole (silver) 
dollar, which of course was highly prized by her, but it was finally lost, much 
to her regret. 

"John Hachey was one of the party of Hessians, Brunswickers and Wal-" 
deckers who were made prisoners by Washington at Trenton. 

" Mr. Ulmer distinctly remembers the old soldier telling the story of their 
capture. He said, ' We were put in an old church under a strong guard, and 



114 GERMANTOWN. 

after a time were marched out, and drawn up in line close to a tavern post, 
minus the ' swinging. sign,' which we took to be the gallows on which we were 
all to be hung. After an address from Washington, through an interpreter, 
we were taken to long tables filled with eatables, the principal dish being sauer- 
kraut, which we enjoyed very much indeed. We then made up our minds 
never to fight against Gen. Washington.' At the battle of the ' Cowpens ' he 
was one of the Cavalrymen that chased Colonel Tarlton ' through the woods.' " 

FIEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The article which introduced this series described "Vernon." The First 
Peesbyteeian Chuech, which adjoins this property, well deserves a notice. 
The fine architectural stone building faces Chelten avenue. A late pastor. Rev. 
Dr. J. F. Dripps, has carefully recorded the history of the parish in a printed 
volume; which gives ps needed information. The elders at that time were T. 
Charlton Henry, Thomas Mackellar, Charles M. Lukens, Enoch Taylor, and 
Edward L. Wilson. The President of the Pastoral Aid Society was Mrs. Mary 
D. Westcott, while J. Addison Campbell was President of the Young Men's 
Society. 

This used to be called "The English Church in Germantown." It is a 
daughter of the Market Square Church. Mr. Joseph Miller, Franklin B. 
Gowen's maternal grandfather, was "a chief mover in the new enterprise." 
Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair, son of an eminent divine of the same name, aided the 
work. One of the earliest services in the new building was for the benefit of 
a company of soldiers in the war of 1812. Rev. Thomas Dunn, an English- 
man, was the first pastor. Services were held for two years in Dr. Blair's house, 
on the eastern corner of Main street and Walnut lane. 

At Mr. Dunn's ordination Dr. Archibald Alexander, Dr. Ashbel Green, and 
Rev. Nathaniel Irwin officiated. 

The site of the first church was that of the present Young Men's Christian 
Association building. John Detweiler received £800 for it in 1811. Mrs. 
Detweiler received $50 extra for signing the deed, being promised 100 cabbages 
to replace her growing cabbages, as the secretary of the Building Committee, 
Isaac Robardeau, records. On July 19th, 1812, the church was dedicated. 
Mr. Joseph Miller was for years the faithful organist, and aided the parish in 
other ways. Mr. Dunn was a faithful and successful leader, but ill-health 
forced him to resign his work. Rev. George Bourne, an Englishman by birth, 
followed him. In 1818 Rev. James Rooker, also of English birth, takes the 
parish as a licentiate, and afterwards receives ordination and is installed. Dr. 
Neill, Rev. Thomas H. Skinner and Rev. J. K. Burch officiated. Rev. Mr. 
Rooker, a faithful Christian pastor, died, and Rev. James Nourse was a supply 
in 1829 and part of 1830. Rev. Dr. George Junkin, principal of the Manual 
Labor Academy, served "several months," and under him twenty-two members 
were added. Dr. William Neill, in 1831, became pastor. He is yet " remem- 




FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 
CHELTEN AVENUE. 



GERMANTOWN. 117 

bered with great interest." In 1842 he 'resigned. Rev. Thomas B. Bradford 
was pastor from 1842 to 1850. From October, 1850, to June, 1852, Dr. 
Septimus Tustin performed a good work here. He was chaplain in Congress 
for several years. He died in 1871. 

The Chestnut Hill Church and the Second Church of Germantown were 
partly formed from this parish. Rev. Dr. Henry J. Van Dyke, Sr., now of 
Brooklyn, became pastor in 1852. From 1853 to 1867 Dr. James H. Mason 
Knox, now President of LaFayette College, had charge of the parish. In his 
day the church building was altered, and the church showed a new life. The 
people have been liberal givers to mission work. In 1870 Dr. J. Frederick 
Dripps became pastor. In his pastorsliip the beautiful new church was 
erected. The building committee were T. Charlton Henry, William Adamson, 
Thomas Mackellar, Enoch Taylor, Woodruff Jones, and Thomas H. Garrett. 
The finance committee were James Garrett, James Kinnier, Dr. G. H. Burgin, 
Jonathan Graham, Charles W. Henry and William B. Mackellar. The founda- 
tion of the building rests on solid rock. It was dedicated May 19th, A. D. 1872. 

The old building was sold to the Young Men's Christian Association. 

The payments for the new building were distributed over two or three years, 
and the poor, as well as the rich, aided liberally. The parish assigns seats, but 
allows each person to give by envelopes. The money matters for internal and 
external objects are arranged by an excellent and systematic plan. Vai'ious 
societies divide and energize the parish work. There are two chapels, one at 
Pulaskiville, and one at Somerville. 

Dr. Dripps resigned this parish in 1879, leaving the new church to mark his 
work. Rev. W. J. Chichester succeeded him, remaining nearly six years. In 
October, 1885, he closed his relation with the church, much to the regret of his 
flock, and took up new duties i'n Los Angeles, California. Rev. Charles Wood, 
of Albany, New York, assumed charge in 1886. 

ZION EVANGELICAL CHURCH. 

Zion Evangelical Church stands in Rittenhouse street, and its graveyard 
touches the northern boundary of the Vernon estate. The pastor is Rev. S. T. 
Leopold. The parsonage ' stands on a lot adjoining the churchyard. The 
congregation is German and English, as was common in " Ancient German- 
town." The first three Sunday mornings in the month the services are in 
German, and the last' Sunday they are in English. The earliest services were 
held in A. D. 1835. The first church building is in the rear of the new one, 
and is now used as a chapel. The new building was erected about six 
years ago. 

In the Lutheran Church on Herman street, near Morton, the German 
language is still used entirely ; and that is thought to be the only place where 
this is the case in this old German town, where at first English services were 
unknown. 



118 GERMANTOWN. 

THE RITTENHOUSE FAMILY. 

Passing up Main street we come to what is now called Rittenhouse street, 
but its first designation was Rittenhouse lane, and it extended west, crossing 
Township Line, then, near what is now known as McKinney's quarry, crossing 
Paper Mill run, and after ascending a steep hill going to the Wissahickon 
creek and crossing that, thence going over to the Ridge road. It no doubt 
derives its name from the early settlers in Roxborough who had there built a 
paper mill, of which and its founders I give the following account from the 
pen of Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, a resident and native of Roxborough, and a 
vice president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, to whose Magazine he 
has contributed several {)apers. Ex-Senator Jones writes thus: 

"I do not know when Rittenhouse lane was first opened, but no doubt it 
was at an early day, for with the exception of School lane it was the nearest 
route to Germantown Main street. Among the earliest settlers of Germantown 
were the Mennonists who came from Holland. Their emigration has been 
portrayed in a very graphic style by Samuel W. Pennypacker, Esq., in the 
Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. 4, pp. 1-58 (' The Settlement of Ger- 
mantown,' etc.), and also in the Penn Monthly for September, 1875 (Abraham 
and Dirck Op Den Graeff). If these articles were read by the residents of 
Germantown, they would have occasion to feel proud of the early settlers. 
They are contained in the volume of Pennypacker's Historical Sketches.- 
Time and space forbid me fi'om going into details about the family named 
Rittenhouse. In Holland they were called Rittinghuysen, Rittinghusius or Rit- 
terhausen, which signifies, so Barton says in his Memoirs of David Rittenhouse, 
Knight's Houses. For manj^ years the old spelling was retained, as their auto- 
graphs in my collection show, but as with other names so this name was 
changed and became thorough^ anglicised intb Rittenhouse. 

" It was in 1688 that Wilhelm (William) Rittenhouse, with his wife and 
two sons, Klaus (Nicholas) and Gerhard (Garrett), and a daughter, Elizabeth, 
arrived in Germantown from New York. How long they had been in New 
York is unknown, but my own belief is that they came directly to Pennsylvania, 
and very probably were so induced by Francis Daniel Pastorius, who knew 
the importance of having a paper mill in this colony. William Rittenhouse 
was a native of the principality of Broick, in Holland, where his ancestors for 
many generations had been paper makers, and was born in 1644. In Germantown 
proper there was not water enough for their purpose, but they soon found a small 
stream, now called Paper Mill run, in Roxborough, and there in a meadow they 
located their mill, This run empties into the Wissahickon about a mile above its 
junction with the Schuylkill. The mill' was built in 1690 by a ' company,' 
composed of such men as William Bradford (the first printer in the Middle 
Colonies of British America, the Bi-Centenary of whose introduction of the 
Printing Press was celebrated by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania on 
the 11th and 12th of December, 1885), William Rittenhouse, Robert Turner, 



GERMANTOWN. 119 

Thomas Tresse and Samuel Carpenter. The land was owned by Carpenter 
and extended from Township Line to the Wissahickon. Mr. Thomas, in his 
History of Printing, says that ' there was neither dam nor race for this mill' 
(Vol. 1, p. 20), but my neighbor, Mr. Nicholas Rittenhouse, a lineal descendant 
of the first paper maker, informs me that this must be an error. His father, 
also named Nicholas Rittenhouse, who died in 1857, at the age of eighty -three 
years, told him that there was a dam and that it was located on the property 
now owned by Mr. H. H. Houston, in Germantown, adjoining the Township 
Line. From this dam there was a race, which crossed Township Line and 
carried the water to the mill. Had there been neither dam nor race the mill 
could not have been washed awaj' by a freshet, as it was about ten years after 
its erection. 

" The most active man next to the founder was his son Nicholas, who ap- 
pears to have been a very intelligent person, and was a preacher among the 
Mennonists. As all students of' Pennsylvania are aware, Bradford moved to 
New Yoi'k in 1693, but he still retained an interest in the paper mill and no 
doubt got much of his paper from Rittenhouse. In 1697 he rented his share 
of the mill, the one-fourth, to the Rittenhouses. The original lease is in my 
collection, and it seems he was to receive as his rent ' 7 reams of printing 
paper, 2 reams of good writing paper, and 2 reams of blue paper j^early.' 
Bradford was a longheaded man, for he also provided in the lease that for ten 
years he should have the refusal of all the printing paper they made at 10 shil- 
ling per ream, and also 5 reams of writing paper at 20 shilling per ream, and 
30 reams of brown paper at 6 shillings per ream. 

" The Rittenhouses continued to carrj^ on the mill very activelj'^ until the 
year 1700 or 1701, when a freshet carried away the whole of their valuable 
property. But thej^ were not disheartened, although their copartners were, 
for I find that they bought from Robert Turner and Thomas Tresse their half 
of the mill about the date of the freshet, and they soon after bought Bradford's 
share and became the sole owners of the property. When the mill was de- 
stroyed William Penn was liere, and Mr. Barton says he had before him, when 
writing his Memoirs (see Memoirs, pp. 83-4), a paper in Penn's handwriting, 
recommending that all persons should give the sufferers relief and encourage- 
ment. In that paper William Rittenhouse is called an old man and is said to 
have been ' decrepid ' but he was not at that time sixty years of age. Although 
Bradford still retained his interest in the mill, he did not contribute to its re- 
construction, but in 1704 he was induced to sell out and the Rittenhouses 
became the sole owners, and from that time until the present date the first 
paper mill in America — at least what remains of it — has been in the Ritten- 
house family. 

" The mill was rebuilt by the Rittenhouses and was carried on very success- 
full}' for many j^ears b}' William and his son Klaus, and then by Jacob Rit- 
tenhouse, and then by the Markles. At last it was changed into a cotton 
factory. 



.120 GERMANTOWN. 

" It was not, however, until February 9, 1705, that the Rittenhouses had 
any deed for the mill property. The land was owned by Samuel Carpenter, 
and on ' the ninth day of the Twelfth month, called February, in the fourth 
year of the reign of Queen Anne,' in 1705, Carpenter leased the premises, con- 
taining about 20 acres, to William Rittenhouse for the term of 975 years from 
the 29th of September, 1705, at a rent of five shillings sterling per annum. 
Such is a brief sketch of the first paper mill in America. 

" Before closing, let me add that there is an interesting history connected 
with the ivater mark of this mill. My researches lead me to believe that the 
first mark used was the word ' Company.' The next was the letters ' W. R.' 
(the initials of the founder), on one half of the sheet of paper, and on the other 
half the Clover Leaf in a shield surmounted by a kind of crown, while beneath 
was the word ' Pensilvania.' The clover grass, or Klee Blatt, used by the 
Rittenhouses as part of the device was, according to Pastorius, the common 
Town Mark or Seal of Germantown, near which the mill was located. On 
some of the paper I liave seen is simply the clover leaf. The next mark used 
was ' K. R.,' the initials of Klaus' Rittenhouse, and this mark can be seen in 
Andrew Bradford's Weekly Mercury. The only other Rittenhouse mark that I 
have seen is that of the letters 'I. R.,' which stood for the initials of Jacob 
Rittenhouse, a great-grandson of the founder. 

" As stated before the Rittenhouses were members of the Mennonite Church, 
as were most of the Hollanders who settled in Germantown, where they organ- 
ized a Church as early as May 23, 1708, which still exists. In an article on 
" Mennonite Emigration to Pennsylvania," by Dr. J. G. De Hoop Schaeffer, of 
Amsterdam (translated by Mr. Pennypacker) and which appeared in the Penn- 
sylvania Magazine of History, Vol. 2, p. 117, and sketches p. 177, etc., it is stated 
that the elder of their two preachers, Wilhelm Rittenhausen, died in 1708," but ' 
Morgan Edwards, in his History of Pennsylvania Baptists, Vol. 1, p. 97, only 
mentions Cleas Rittenhausen as one of their preachers. Dr. Schaeffer, no doubt, 
had good grounds for his statement, that William Rittinghausen was a Menno- 
nite preacher, and as Mr. Pennypacker (now Judge Pennypacker) follows Mr. 
S., I have little doubt that William was also a preacher. 

" William Rittenhouse, the founder of the first paper mill, died in 1708, 
aged 64 years. His son, Nicholas, who was born June 15, 1666, married 
Wilhelmain Dewees, a sister of William Dewees, also a papermaker, and died 
in 1734. He had three sons and four daughters. He left the paper mill to his 
son William, and when he died his son Jacob Rittenhouse became the owner 
and carried on the business until 1811, when a family by the name of Markle, 
also papermakers, occupied the mill. The above-named William Rittenhouse, 
had a son, named Matthias, who was born in 1703. He lived at the home- 
stead in Roxborough, and in 1727 married Elizabeth Williams, a daughter of 
Evan Williams, a native of Wales. They resided in a house still standing, 
just back of the Rittenhouse Baptist Chapel. It was built in the year 1707, as 
appears from the date stone in the gable end. It was in this house that 



GERMANTOWN. 121 

on the eighth of April, 1732, was born the celebrated American astronomer, 
David Rittenhouse. Wlien David was a few years old his parents left the old 
homestead and went to Norriton Township, Montgomery County. Of his 
wonderful career I have not time now to speak." 

I append a short sketch of the astronomer to Senator Jones's article. In 
Henry Simpson's " Lives of Eminent Philadelphians," a short account of David 
Rittenhouse occurs, but Samuel W. Pennypacker gave a longer sketch of him 
in Harper's MontJdy, May, '82, which is re-printed in his " Historical Sketches," 
from which we make a few notes. The career of this farm lad seems to have 
started when an uncle who died left some mathematical books. His plough 
handles and the fences were soon covered with his calculations. When a mere 
child he made a miniature watermill, and in boyhood a wooden clock. In 
discovering the method of fluxions he rivalled Newton and Leibnitz, as Mr. 
Benjamin Rush declares. " In 1770 he completed his celebrated orrery." In 
1769 his calculations and observations of the transit of Venus at Norriton so 
affected him that he swooned at their successful conclusion. He was a fine 
mechanic, and could construct the instruments needed for his astronomical 
calculations. Rittenhouse was prominent in the Revolutionary War, being 
vice-president of the Committee of Safety. For twelve years he was treasurer 
of the States of Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York. He was the first 
Director of the Mint. Rittenhouse wrote various scientific papers for the 
American Philosophical Society. After Franklin's death he became president 
of that Society in 1 790. He received the high honor of an " election as a for- 
eign member of the Royal Society of London in 1795." He died in 1794. A 
friend having given him " some slight attention," his last words of gratitude 
and Christian faith were: "You make the way to God easier." Ceracchi 
made a bust of him, and Peale painted his portrait. A Philadelphia square 
bears his name. He was a good linguist, ready and apt in imparting knowl- 
edge. In public affairs he was strictly honest. In person full, with a mild 
countenance, his sympathetic nature included Indians and negroes in its em- 
brace. With simple tastes his own home was his happiest resting-place. 

COMMUNICATIONS. 



Valuable Old Paper. 

[To the Editor of tlie Tei ec.raph.] 

In the Telegraph of March 13, reference is made to some paper made at 
the Rittenhouse Paper Mill, in Roxborough, by C. Rittenhouse in 1691. This 
person was no doubt meant to be Claus or Nicholas Rittenhouse. In 1691 he 
was not the owner of the paper mill referred to, but as you will see iia one of 
Rev. S. F. Hotchkin's articles, the first papermaker in British America was 
William Rittenhouse, who was the father of Claus. David Rittenhouse was 
not the nephew of Claus but his grandson. Mr. Childs of the Ledger is not en- 
deavoring to have the papermakers meet in 1890, but has cordially seconded 



122 GERMANTOWN. 

the suggestion of Horatio Gates Jones, one of our citizens, who called upon 
him to obtain his opinion of the jjroper celebration of the bi-centennial of the 
Rittenhouse Paper Mill. The statement that authentic documents cannot be 
found to prove that the first mill was erected in 1690, is entirely wrong, for 
Mr. Jones has such proofs in his possession and will be happy to exhibit them 
at the bi-centennial, if it is ever held. Beoich. 

Roxborough, March 23, 1889. 

In the Pennsylvania Magazine of History (No. 1 of Vol. 5, pp. 118, 119), is a 
note which states that a Moravian Synod was held in Engelbert Lock's house, 
May 10 to 14, 1747, and asks its location and adds^ quoting from some source: 
— " It stands on the left of the road going dowil to Philadelijhia, a little below 
the Cooper Vende. It is a bakery with rooms enough to lodge all the deputies, 
and a fine hall for sessions, with two doors for entrance." 

In the annals of the Early Moravian Settlement in Georgia and Pennsylva- 
nia, p. 183, I find this record in 1742: "May 16 the Synod met for the sixth 
time, and in Lorenz Schweitzer's house in Germantown." On the same page 
the fifth meeting, on April 28, in the Reformed Church is noted. 

The people could not always keep the time or even know when Sunday 
came. The first almanac of Sauer was jsublished in 1738. In 1748 a picture 
of a flying angel was introduced with other pictures. Medical information 
was given as physicians were scarce and the people poor. He also treated on 
horology. Sauer's weather predictions at times failing he incurred the dis- 
pleasure of some but met it with good nature. In 1748 he ingeniously printed 
the almanac in colors, imitating a fashion in Germany. He was very success- 
ful with his almanac, but the last one was issued in 1778, when the Revolu- 
tion broke up his establishment. A printer, named Dunlap, in Philadelphia, 
continued the series. In No. 3 of Vol. 6, Jacob Fatzinjier, Jr., gives the title 
of a German almanac, issued in 1831, \>j Andreas Bradford. 

In the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, No. 1 of Vol. 6, it is stated by 
Charles G. Sower that William H. Sowers was not a descendant of Christopher 
Sauer. Rupp's " Thirtj'^ Thousand Names " of Pennsylvania immigrants be- 
fore 1775 shows that Sauer, or Sower, was not an uncommon name among 
them. Chris. Sauer, "first," was a " Separatist," and " his son was a Tunker 
preacher and overseer." Six-plate stoves were his inventions, from which ten- 
plate stoves afterwards originated. "Mr. Fleckenstem did not 'forge' his 
tjj'pes. Thejr were cast by himself in matrices, said to have been forged under 
his (Sauer's) direction by Mr. F." 

In the same Magazine W. P. Bagnall has a letter to Mr. Ward saying that 
Mr. Thomas R. Fisher's Hosiery Mills could not have been started before 1834, 
when Mr. Fisher bought his machinery from Thomas Jones and engaged him 
as superintendent. The Wakefield Mills had made woolen cloth or cloth of 
cotton and wool mixed. Thomas Jones died belbre the hosiery machinery 
was ready for action in the Wakefield Mills in 1834. His son Aaron became 



GERMANTOWN. 123 

superintendent, hut went into business for himself in 1839. His brother John 

succeeded him in Mr. Fisher's employ. He lives in Philadelphia and gave 

Mr. Bagnall all the facts. 

— 1 
Thomas Jones and the late John Button began to make " hosiery at Ger- ' 

mantown about the beginning of April, 1831." Mr. Jones moved from Nice- 
town and Mr. Button from South Third street, below Shippen street. They 
came "from Leicestershire, England, in April, 1830." Tiie credit of introduc- 
ing the hosiery business in Germantown is due to them, though stockings had 
been made on hand-frames in the Germantown homes from "the settlement 
of Germantown by the Mennonites in 1684." In 1809 Thorp, Siddall & Co., 
near Germantown, printed cotton on copper cylinders. Tire machinery was 
imported. Magazine No. 4 of A'^ol. 8, p. 383. — Samuel H. Needle's article on 
" Governor's Mill and the Globe Mills, Philadelphia." 

In the Magazine No. 3 of Vol. 6, Ward has an article on Dr. Horace Evans's 
country place on- Indian Queen Lane, west of Township line. The stone 
blacksmith shop there is said to have been used by the British. It has been 
enlarged and is a tenant house. In 1802 Archibald McCall obtained the 
property, and strove to improve there the breed of sheep. In 1818 Griffith Evans, 
Dr. E.'s father, became owner. The house has been changed, but has an old 
stone dated 1732. Griffith Evans was in the American Revolutionary army 
in the medical department. He was Secretary of the Commissioners to settle 
difficulties in Wyoming and went there with Timothj^ Pickering. He was 
also secretarj' to tlie Board of Commissioners for adjusting claims of British 
subjects under Jay's Treaty of 1794. The commissioners do not seem to have 
reached any practical result. Griffith Evans died in 1845, aged 85. 

Near Dr. Evans's place lived the handsome Irishman, Col. Walter Stewart, a 
favorite of Washington. His beautiful ^Vife was Blair McClanachan's daugh- 
ter. He called his place Mount Stewart. 

Robert Shoemaker, of Shoemakertown, writes that Sarah Schumacker's 
husband, George, died at sea, as she was coming to this country with li,er fam- 
ily of seven children. Benj. HoUowell, a well-known teacher in Alexandria, 
Va., who died in 1877, was a descendant of George Shoemaker. He wrote 
that George's son, George, lived at Criesheim, and being persecuted as a 
Friend, came, by Penn's invitation, to Pennsylvania. The family came on 
the ship " Jefferies," Arnold, master, Richard and his granddaughter, Sarah 
Wain, were fellow jaassengers. The ship landed at Chester, in 1685. In 1694 
George Shoemaker and Sarah Wain were married at Richard Wain's house. 
George signed the certificate in Gerinan. The original is in the hands of Dr. 
Wm. L. Shoemaker, of Georgetown, D. C. The children of this marriage were 
"Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elizabeth, George and Richard." The children of 
the elder George were " George, Barbara, Abraham, Isaac, Susannah, Elizabeth, 
Benjamin." 

Isaac Price married Susannah in 1696. These were ancestors of the late 
distinguished lawver, Eli K. Price. 



124 GERMANTOWN. 

Robert Shoemaker, who writes the note, signs himself " of the sixth genera- 
tion, from George and Sarah Wahi." 

As to Augustine Neisser, the Germantown clockmaker, John W. Jordan, in 
the Magazine (No 4 of Vol. 4), states that in 1736 he "was engaged to build 
' ye great clock ' for the congregations of Moravians at Bethlehem ; o8J lb?, of 
brass work costing £18 had been purchased before. He finished the clock in 
1747, receiving £8 as compensation." 

Rev. John Cosens Ogden, an Episcopal clergyman, wrote a work called an 
" Excursion into Bethlehem and Nazareth in 1799," with an account of the 
Moravians. It was printed by Charles Cist, of Philadelphia, in 1805. AUi- 
bone's Dictionary of Authors states that this author was born in New Jersey. 
He was rector at Portsmouth, N. H., from 1786 to 1793, and died at Chester- 
town, Maryland, in 1800. 

In going to Northampton county from Philadelphia, he says : " German- 
town is the most considerable settlement. It begins about six miles from 
Philadelphia, and forms one continued and very compact street of stone 
houses for several miles. The road is muddy and dusty when rain or droughts 
prevail. 

" The houses in Germantown are very universally shaded with weeping wil- 
lows, the Lombardy poplar and other ornamental trees. The gardens are 
under excellent cultivation, with valuable fields in their rear. Their churches 
are strong — plain structures of stone, in good repair, as are the houses 
universally. 

" No obscure cottages, the retreat of poverty and misfortune, or the haunts 
of vice and indolence are exhibited. The inhabitants are industrious, rich 
and happy. That elegant mansion, called Chew's house, a noble stone build- 
ing, at a small distance in the rear of a. large area in its front, and decorated 
with trees, cannot be passed without notice. It is more remarkable as it was 
a place^ during the last war, where a very serious conflict took place between 
the British and Americans. Chestnut Hill and White Marsh also brought to 
recollection the events of part of the war when the American army possessed 
those places while they surrounded the enemy within the city. Some of the 
breast-works appear which were cast up at that time. 

"As the German husbandmen seek the conveniences of meadow and water 
before they erect their homes, and then. build in the most commodious places, 
where these can be obtained, the houses of the inhabitants do not appear so fre- 
quently on the roadside as in the northern States. These are skirted with 
woods and orchards, as soil and heights present for the preservation of the first 
and planting of the second" (pp. 5, 6). 

The Rev. Israel Aerelius, Provost of the Swedish Churches in America, and 
rector of Old Swedes Church, of Wilmington, Delaware, in his " History of 
New Sweden," published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, says that 
Germantown " is three miles long. It has one principal street, which is a pub- 



GERMANTOWN. 125 

lie wagon-road, and 350 houses. The inhabitants are general^ German 
mechanics," p. 143. 

In 1760, Rev. Mr. Neil, who lived in Germantown, but served as the Propa- 
gation Society's Missionary at Oxford and White Marsh, reported that German- 
town contained 300 houses. He intended to officiate in the town on Sunday 
evenings. 

" The inhabitants of Germantown are Dutch save two or three families of 
English, and they belong to the Church of England. There is a Lutheran 
Church and Calvinist Meeting in this town, one of the Quakers and one of the 
Minnists. German Town lies 6 miles northwest of Philadelphia, a place of 
considerable inland trade, situated about 3 miles from navigable water for 
small craft called the River Schuylkill. It stands upon a rising ground and 
contains 100 fair houses, and is in length 2 miles. There are houses scattered 
all along the road from German Town to W. Marsh (White Marsh), and the sit- 
uation of the church (St. Thomas's White Marsh) on a high hill, is very agree- 
able from whence we may see it very plain at 3 miles distance riding on the 
great road." Report of Rev. Aeneles Ross, Missionary at Oxford and White 
Marsh, to the English Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 
A. D. 1745. 

SCHOOL HOUSE LANE. 

As Ward said little about School House Lane, only noticing it from Main 
street to Township line, we will now go backward a little, and take up that 
old thoroughfare. It is one of the finest avenues in this country. On Ward's 
written chart it is marked Ashmead's Road, Bensell's lane. School lane, and 
Robeson's Mill Road. It had yet another name, and was originally called 
King street to correspond with Queen street. The Revolution may have driven 
out that name, though Wilmington, Delaware, still has a King street. 

In 1711 John Ashmead bought 500 acres of land on Main street and School 
lane. On the site of the Saving Fund building, southwest corner of School 
lane and Main street, was, as Watson says, the first stone house in German- 
town. It was one story high, and is supposed to have been built by the great- 
great-grandfather of Dr. William Ashmead. The rear of the old house which 
stood here was more antique than the front. When the first house gave way, 
and Dr. Bensell put up a new building, a part of the original dwelling may 
have remained in the back -building. 

The Boisbrun house occupied the site of the Bank of Germantown. 

A piece of the cornice faced with lead of the old Bensell house was shown 
me at the Mutual Fire Insurance Office, while the front of Mr. Howell's- resi- 
dence on Main street is adorned with much of the same cornice, taken from the 
old house. 

Dr. William Ashmead informs me that the original building on the site of 
the Saving Bank, was of logs, and that it ran farther into the street than the 



126 GERMANTOWN. 

Saving Fund edifice. The foundations encroached four to six feet upon the 
present pavement. Penn twiced preached there. Dr. Bensell bought the lot, 
and built a two-story stone house about 1793. The property afterwards fell back 
into the hands of the Ashmead family, and the Bensell house was torn down 
to make way for the benevolent institution and its good work. 

A Revolutionary incident finds jalace here. A man who lived in Dr. Ash- 
mead's house or one near by, in fleeing from the British received a shot in the 
leather of his boot, and knew not of it till he stopped his riding miles away. 

In the little wooden house on the corner, east of the Academy, lived Betsj"- 
Dougherty, who was so weighty that after her death her cofiin was passed 
through the second story window to the excitement of the neighborhood. 

"Ward having treated of the Academy, we will simply note that the chocolate 
colored house on the south, lying east of Wayne street occupied by John Wood, 
is the old Coulter mansion. The west end was removed and a neat modern 
addition of stone and wood took its place. The house is pebble-dashed with 
a hip-roof and dormer windows. John Coulter was a Philadelphia merchant, 
who owned and ran a line of vessels. His son Stephen was a sea-captain. 
He died two or three years ago. Another son, named David, was a sea-cap- 
tain in the mercliant service. The building which stands in the yard of the 
Coulter house was the engine house of the Fellowship Fire Company. They 
were located in Arm at street. The old engine was called the Shag-Rag. It is 
still in Germantown. The side is marked, Germantown, 1764. The wheels 
are blocks of solid wood. The Dutihls formerly owned the Coulter estate. 

We will however enter School lane at the other end. Riding along the 
beautiful Wissahickon drive, and pa.ssing Rittenhousetown while the snow- 
clad earth contrasts strikingly with the trees which are so abundant, and the 
Park assures the inhabitants of rus in urbe, we reflect on the goodly heritage of 
the Germantowner. A friend and companion remarks that this wild valley 
would in the western land, which he has traversed, be called a canon. The 
houses perched on the cliffs beyond the creek have a fine location. 

The High Bridge Mansion opposite the creek, now a public house, was the 
old Robeson mansion. On the cliff above it was a Hessian redoubt. The dam, 
which has been tattling to the stones for so many years, and cannot be quiet 
day or night, may remind one of Southey's beautiful description to his child 
of the "sparkling" and "darkling water that comes down at Lodore." This, 
is the old dam of the Robeson mill, and it used to work hard for a living, now 
it is only playing. There were originally two races which served the mill. In 
the Hon. Horatio Gates Jones's " Leverington fiimily" we find that Andrew 
Robeson, who died in 1719-20 gave to his eldest son Andrew, by will, " All 
lands and tenements belonging to the Roxhorrow mill and Bolting mill." 

As this part of Roxborough is identified in the public mind with German- 
town, the limits of the two places will not be noticed. 



GERMxANTOWN. 127 

In the " Levering Familjr " eleven ancient mills are named, and their owners 
designated. Nine were on the Wissahickon, and eight were grist-mills. There 
was an oil-mill and a fulling-mill. 

Ill Jones's History of Roxliorough, the name of Sumac Park is given as the 
designation of the Robeson estate, which name is still retained. It is added 
that the mill was called the Wissahickon Mill, and may have been the first on 
the creek, and being on the King's Highway, near the city, it was prominently 
before the public. It was visited by the Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt 
and described by him. This was in 1795 when Peter Robeson owned and 
managed it. In the Revolution John Vandeeren occupied it; the despatches 
call it '\''andeering's Mill. It was an important point by reason of the Hessian 
redoubt. Nathan L. Jones, a brother of the author named, had a board-yard a 
little above at Righter's Ferry, on the other side of the creek. The fine viaduct 
of the Reading Railroad, with its noble arches of gray stone, brings us back to 
modern days, and shows a sight wdiich would have startled the eyes of the 
ReA'olutionary people. The stone abutment on the far side of the creek is a 
part of the old bridge. 

We ride by School Mansion, another place of public resort, and leaving 
Ridge Avenue enter School Lane by a steep ascent. On a knob on the right 
are. the earthworks of the late war. 

The first property on the left, with its pretty rustic fence has been owned by 
Mr. Philip Guckes, on the right is Powers and Weightman's Laboratory, and 
near by a tract of land owned by James Dobson. 

After crossing the Railroad at the corner of Gipsy Lane on the left is Chas. 
C. Harrison's propertJ^ On the right is the mansion built by the late Thomas 
A. Powers, with a fine large conservator^^ The Weightman property joins this 
estate on the lower side. The Powers mansion is occupied in the summer. 
There is a beautiful hill view from it. 

Opposite is Charles C. Harrison's fine house with woods in the rear, and its 
Queen Anne gai'dener's and coachman's double cottage. .James C. Kempton 
built the original small house, and sold to Ellis Yarnall, who enlarged it and 
sold it to Mr. Harrison. There is an abundance of woods near Germantown, 
and the countrj^ is undulating, and affording good building sites. 

The Weightman house, built by William Allison, with its pillared front 
porch and double bay windows at both ends, next draws the attention. This 
stone house is the oldest on the Lane, but has been modernized. It lies on the 
right hand side. Thomas Rea and Edward C. Pechin were former owners. 
Next to this comes William H. Merrick's place with its tasteful, variegated 
brick and stone wall at two stiles, wdth an iron railing between. The house 
is a pretty country residence of good size, with a conservatory on the lower 
side. It is of stone, plastered. Its hospitable owner has enriched his mansion 
with many foreign curiosities. He is a son of the late Samuel V. Merrick. 

The house was built by Mr. Smith, a U. S. Marshall about sixty-five or 
seventy years ago. Messrs. Bowen, Hill and Spangenburg of New Orleans, 



128 GERMANTOWN. 

and the Hagan family, also of New Orleans, possessed it. Thomas Dunlap, 
the last President of the Bank of the United States, was the next owner, and 
was followed by William H. Merrick. 

The late ex-Mayor Henry's estate lies next on the same side of the way. The 
house is occupied by his widow. It is a pleasant cottage with fine trees in front. 
It was built by Dr. William M. Uhler, who sold to Mayor Henry. 

On the other side of the road a square tower, like a Turkish minaret, now 
strikes the eye. This is the abode of Caleb F. Milne. Thomas W. Smith 
built a i^art of the present house, and Archibald Campbell, a manufacturer, of 
Manayunk, enlarged it. He died October 23, A. D. 1874, at fifty years of age. 
There is an extensive piazza attached to the house, which adds to its summer 
attractions. It is constructed of stone, and is one of the largest and finest 
residences in the vicinity. The property once belonged to Benjamin Morgan, 
a blacksmith, who married Amelia Sophia Levering, daughter of Wigard 
Levering, a pioneer settler of Roxborough. His old house is still standing. 

On the right side next to Mayor Henry's, is the old-fashioned, stylish, white 
stone mansion, with its Grecian pillared porch, which was at one time owned 
and occupied by the late Aaron Doan, a much esteemed citizen. George 
Presbury sold to Mr. Doan. Charles J. IngersoU once owned the place. The 
property next to Mayor Henry's was once owned by Abraham Martin. Old 
settlers called it " The Infants' Retreat." It was an Infants' Boarding School, 
under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Martin, where children were well cared for 
when parents were absent or traveling, or for any reason wished to have their 
children provided for. Mr. Martin was connected with the American Sunday 
School Union. He was w^ell known and beloved in the Sunday schools of 
Philadeljjhia and its vicinity, and used to visit them, making touching and 
effective addresses. He was called Father Martin. Blindness came upon him, 
but he still attended the noondaj^ prayer meeting, conducted by his faithful 
wife, who still survives him. The same place was occupied by Miss Spafford as 
a Ladies' Boarding and Day School. 

Next to the Milne property is that of John Wagner. It is the old family 
homestead and lies on a private road east of the Milne house. The residence 
is in a valley, while the ground slopes upward to School lane. A tulip poplar 
on these grounds at the roadside, with a verj'- large girth, is quite observable. 
Its great beauty is seen in the sjjring, when it is covered with tulip flowers. 
The bark is regularly divided into ridges. The Wagner estate has been long 
in the family. The fifth generation now dwell there. John Wagner's grand- 
father, also named John, bought the place in 1784, in yellow-fever times. 

Adjoining the Doan property is the house of Mr. John F. Orne. It is large 
and adorned with Corinthian pillars. The entrance is on the side. A new 
stone wall has been built in front of the grounds by the present owner. 

Two cottages in one inclosure on the right belong to Mr. Bell of Pittsburg. 

The next property to Wagner's is that of the late George Leib Harrison. It 
formerly belonged to Dr. J. K. Mitchell, the father of Mrs. Harrison. It is a 



GERMANTOWN. 129 

summer resitlence, and a neat porter's lodge introduces the way to it. The 
fence is similar to that on the old Merrick place. When John Walter, editor 
of the London Times, was in this country, he rode out from the city to German- 
town with Mr. McKean, of the Public Ledger. His English insularity was 
unmoved until he saw the iron fence at S. V. Merrick's place, which struck him 
so much that he alighted and measured it as a pattern for use in his own 
country. When he came to the Milne place, the noble view of the hill country 
stirred him, and lie called his son to him, crying out, as he pointed to the hills, 
" Barkshire," being reminded of the views in that English district. School 
lane is thought especially English by Englishmen, and the cricketers who 
visited us last summer so regarded it. 

Next to George Leib Harrison's place, on the left is Samuel Welsh's house 
and grounds. Grand old oak trees, and chestnut and cedars mark it. A long 
low wall runs along the lane. The house lies well back and is occupied 
generally in the summer only. 

The opposite house, on the right, was built about 1800 by Richard Hill 
Morris. In 1813 it belonged to the eminent Dr. Caspar Wistar, who founded 
the Wistar parties. It is a quaint frame building, with a low roof and peculiar 
dormer windows and two wings. Moses Brown, whose first wife was Dr. 
Wistar's niece, occupied it. His second wife was Miss Morris. Thomas Wistar 
Brown enlai'ged it. Moses Brown died lately over eighty years of age. The 
house of Jeremiah Brown was once rented by Dr. Tiedeman, a South Carolin- 
ian, who used to drive four in hand. Dr. Caspar Wistar called School House 
lane the Montpelier of America, as being the healthiest section, in his knowledge, 
about Philadelphia. The wings of the Moses Brown house were built by 
Dr. Wistar. 

Next to this place, on the right, is that of the late Jeremiah Brown, who was 
of the firm of J. & M. Brown, commission merchants. He died at an advanced 
age. Mrs. Moses Brown, Jr., now dwells there. It is a white, rough-cast, stone 
house, with a semi-circular porch. 

Opposite is J. Kimball's modern house. It is in Queen Anne style, and is 
constructed of stone, brick and wood, having a red-tiled roof There is a con- 
servatory on the west side and a fine stone gateway. Mr. Kimball was lately 
the President of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. On this place is a cottage 
which was occupied by ex-Mayor Richard Vaux during his Mayoralty. He 
formerly owned the property. He informs me that he had six rooms built in 
one week in adding to this house to enable him to occupy it at once when 
cholera threatened the city. His famity then lived on the S. Morris Wain 
place, which lies opposite the Treichel property. He married a sister of that 
gentleman. Mr. Wain's sisters now reside there. The house was built by 
James C- Kempton, who sold to Mr. Wain. Mr. Kempton was once surprised, 
as he sat in his house, by English burglars, while his familj'^ were absent visiting 
Judge J. Righter Jones. They locked him in a closet and also locked up the 
servants and ransacked at pleasure. The silver taken was afterwards recovered. 



130 GERMANTOWN. 

t 

Continuing on School lane, the property covered by tlie places of Messrs. 
Sill and Dougherty and the Misses Wain was formerly owned by Mr. Craig, 
who had a fine driving track tliere for exercising liis horses. He kept a fine 
stock of them. Mr. Craig resided in the mansion now occupied by Mrs. 
Cornelius Smith, at Falls lane, corner of Township line. Most of School lane 
has been built up since 1836. 

Next to .Jeremiah Brown's, on the right, Mr. Herbert Sill's fine large Queen 
Anne cottage is situated. The first storj^ is of stone and the second of shingle 
work. The similar residence of Mr. Doughert}', Mr. Sill's brother-in-law, is 
adjacent. Opposite lies Redwood Warner's house and grounds. This is said to 
be the best-kept lawn, with the finest turf, in Germautown. The house com- 
mands a fine view in the rear across the valley of the Wissahickon. Its 
material is grey stone. It is of modern style, with a Mansard roof. The 
Frenchman, Mansard, who invented this style of roof, did much to make the 
upper story of a house pleasant and useful. The house is occupied by Mr. 
Warner, with whom reside his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. 
The adjoining property belongs to Mr. William Allison, but is occujiied by 
Mr. Almy. 

The Treichel place comes next in order. It is now owned by Colonel George 
A. Woodward, on the retired list of the U. S. army, son of the late Judge 
Woodward, of the Supreme Court of Pennsjdvania. The house, built by Dr. 
Treichel, was remodeled and enlarged by him, and a porte cochere added. It 
is a rough-cast stone building, with brick trimmings about the windows and 
doors. Two noble Norway firs in front ornament this pleasant country liome. 
Colonel Woodward is a member of the publishing firm of L. R. Hamersh' & 
Co. Dr. Charles Treichel was formerly connected with the Custom House. He 
was Deputy Collector of the Port of Philadelphia. He married a sister of 
Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont. Two of his sons served with distinction as 
officers of the late war. Colonel Charles Treichel is in the New York 
Custom House. His two sisters live in the same city. 

The fine residence of Mr. Edward T. Steel, President of the Board of Educa- 
tion, next meets us on the same side of the Lane. The house was purchased 
by him from Mr. Justice, who erected it, and the present owner has modernized 
it. It is an elegant house, built of stone, rough-cast, with brick trimmings. A 
conservatory opens into the parlor and librar}^ Here Mr. Steel gave a magnifi- 
cent reception to President Hayes, during his Presidency. The grounds were 
illuminated with Chinese lanterns. The lawn is prettily wooded. 

Next on the right appears Edward N. Wright's square frame mansion, built 
bj' his father, Peter Wright. In the same inclosure is the house of Mrs. 
S. Warner Johnson, a sister of Mr. Wright. It is a Gothic cottage, with the 
gable toward the road. 

On the left hand side, after passing Mr. Steel's, is the Lovering house. The 
place is named " Ta worth." It is a modern stone building, with a square 
tower. The grounds abound in fine evergreen trees. Mr. Joseph S. Lovering's 




RESIDENCE OF MAHLON BRYAN, WEST WALNUT LANE. 



GERMANTOWN. 133 

widow and children reside liere. Tlie house was built by Lewis D. Senat, who 
sold to Stephen Morris, of Morris, Tasker & Co., who sold to Mr. Lover! ng. 
Next to this, on same side, is the well-known Merrick estate. The late Samuel 
V. Merrick bought it from Mr. Wharton Chancellor, whose mother lived next 
to the Academy, about 1864. Mr. Chancellor built the house for his sister, 
Mrs. Twells. Within a year or two Mr. Justice C. Strawbridge, of the firm of 
Strawbridge & Clothier, purchased it. He is enlarging the mansion. The 
grounds are extensive. The porte cochere is prominent. The front of the 
house is broken into various angles. 

Opposite is Mr. James S. Mason's modern stone cottage, with its muUioned 
windows. Then comes the exceedingly large brick house of Mr. Warden, with 
its ample f)iazza, and its peaked roof and corner demi-tower, capped with an 
octagonal roof The front is on Township Line. Sheriff Porter's house is on 
the northwest corner of the Lane and Township Line. 

Mr. Ward had alluded to Mr. E. W. Clark's fine mansion. 

On School Lane, on the lot adjoining E. W. Clark's property, on the east, on 
Dr. Ashmead's place, are three sassafras trees and some stones in a little hollow, 
where it is said that Indians were buried. 

As late as 1856 there was but one small stone cottage on the Coulter estate, 
near Wayne street. The rest of the sjjace, between Township Line and Captain 
Coulter's house and farm, was vacant. 

Tlie building opposite the Academy was a boarding house for the pupils. 
The side buildings were for the use of the teachers, though the one nearest 
Green street is said to have- once accommodated sixteen persons as boarders. 
The Academy was used as a hospital in the Revolutionary war. 

One of the Modern Houses in Germantown is that built in 1886, by 
Mr. William H. Scott on the corner of School Lane and Wayne Avenue. It pos- 
sesses several attractive features among which is an Old English Walnut tree 
growing out of the stable porch. Mr. Scott preferred to build around it rather 
than cut the tree down. 

In 1838 or 1839 the space from Moses Brown's house to the Coulter house 
was open, excepting a couple of small barns and a stone cottage. Peter 
Wright's house was the first one to break this gap. 

In preparing this sketch of School Lane the writer has been kindly aided 
by Ex-Mayor Richard Vaux, Mr. John Wagner, Colonel G. A. Woodward, the 
Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, Mr. Jabez Gates and Mr. Wistar Brown. 

Germantown, February 25, 1886, — In compliance with the request of Rev. 
Mr. Hotchkin, I contribute to his " Historical Sketches of Germantown " the 
following observations on the Chancellor houses and some other properties on 
Schoolhouse lane. The name of David James Dove is mentioned in a book 
entitled " Eminent Philadelphians," published in 1869, and edited by Henry 
Simpson. It is dedicated by him to Horace Binney, Esq. (a more eminent 
Philadelphian it would have been difficult for him to select), and it is therein 



134 GERMANTOWN. 

stated that said David James Dove was an Englishman by birth, of some 
notoriety in his country as a satirical poet, and that, emigrating to America, 
he was, in the year 1759, appointed teacher iii the Philadelphia Academy, now 
the University of Pennsylvania. On the fifth of February, 1761, this same 
Dove, having quarreled with the Trustees of the Philadelphia Academy, and 
resigned his position, was appointed master of English in the Germantown 
Academy, Schoolhouse lane ; " to enter into the service as soon as the school- 
house be ready." This irascible gentleman, between whose name and charac- 
ter there seemed to be no similarity, again, shortly, exhibited his undove-like 
disposition by quarreling with his new patrons; for, on the 24th of June, 
1763, they resolved to dismiss him, the casus belli being that he had been heard 
by one of the Trustees to say that he would not " comply with the order of the 
Board " (limiting the number of his boarding scholars, which he probably 
found the most profitable of his pupils, to sixteen), " any longer than until he 
had the building finished that he was erecting contiguous to the schoolhouse." 
The building here referred to is the three-story mansion, adjoining the Academy 
property on the south-west, known, par excellence, as the Chancellor house. It 
will he seen therefore that this venerable mansion, now much altered however 
by an attempt to modernize it, was built in the year 1763, and is not less than 
one hundred and twenty-three years old ; it will also be understood why the 
unusual addition of a third story was placed upon it; unusual at that time, 
especially so in a countrj'' house. Precisely how long Mr. Dove occupied or 
owned the house, which was evidently built for a rival to the Academy, and 
as a defiance to its Trustees, I do not know, for his history is lost in the abyss 
of time ; but that it was purchased by Mr. William Chancellor, in the early 
part of the present century, is beyond question. Mr. Chancellor was the 
son of Dr. William and Salome Chancellor, the latter being a daughter of Mr. 
John Wister, the elder. He was the father of Messrs. William, Wharton and 
Henry Chancellor ; the last of whom was the last of the family to occupy the 
house, his death occurring about the year 1865. ' Mr. William Chancellor was 
also the father of Mrs. Twells, whose country seat, on the west corner of School 
lane and Township line, will hereafter be mentioned. 

Regarding properties on the lane, other than those of the Coulter and Ash- 
mead, the holders of which, in former days, Mr. Hotchkin requests me to name, 
I would mention that Dr. George Bensell, besides the lot attached to his resi- 
dence, on the south corner of the lane and the Main street of Germantown, 
owned a considerable tract on the southeast side, west of the present site of 
Wayne street, now, or lately, included in the Coulter property. On it, until 
witliin a few years, stood a small house or cottage, surrounded by many pear 
trees. To old German towners it was known as Dr. Bensell's pear orchard, and 
they no doubt, as would be the case at the present day, divided pretty evenly 
with the Doctor the produce of this small farm. Nearly opposite this, now 
bisected by the Chestnut Hill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Mr. John 
Wister, Sr., of Vernon, owned a tract, still in possession of his descendants. 



GERMANTOWN. * 135 

On the west corner of the lane and Township line road, Engle Bensell, a bro- ■ 
ther of Dr. Bensell, owned a large tract, purchased some forty years since 
Mr. Wharton Chancellor, son of Mr. William Chancellor, already mentioned, 
who built thereon a summer residence, a second Chancellor mansion, which 
he, with his brother, William, and sister, Mrs. Twells, occupied at that season 
for many years. This country mansion has been even more severely dealt 
with than its confrere, the Chancellor house hitherto mentioned, for not a vestige 
of it remains to tell its tale. A gentleman named Stockton, originally from 
New Jersey, and probably of the family of Commodore Stockton, owned a 
large tract of land on the southeast side of the lane, opposite to this latter 
Chancellor mansion, extending from the Township line road to, and perhaps in- 
cluding, the property now belonging to the Misses Wain. He was a gentle- 
man of elegant leisure, and the owner of fine horses, etc. Mucli of his 
property afterwards came into the hands of Mr. John Craig, and subsequently 
of Mr. Cornelius Smith. c. J. w. 



The records of J. W. Jordan state that John Engelbert Lock, already- spoken 
of, died July 9, A. D. 1769, aged 72. He was buried in the Moravian burying 
ground corner of Franklin and Vine streets. 

As we proceed up Main street, let us take another look at the depot and re- 
flect how many depots now give convenience to Germantown, while in the 
early days of railroading the passengers were deposited in the street. The 
Chelten avenue station, as well as several others, may be called luxurious. It 
is remarkable how Germantown delights in W's in her stations. She would 
not be, like Silas Wright, in the song, right without her W. Westmoreland 
and Wissahickon, on the Pennsylvania line, and Wayne, Wister, Wingohock- 
ing. Walnut Lane and Wyndmoor on the Reading, strain the printer's font of 
type and show a penchant for one letter. The Mixture of Indian, English 
and family names, and a queen and an American general, is however in good 
taste, and a help to perpetuate histor3^ 

John C. Channon was on the first locomotive which passed back and forth 
from Philadelphia to Germantown. William Green, who has just died, was 
another passenger. Mr. Channon describes the cars as being fine and like 
carriage bodies. The passengers were for some time landed in the load where 
Price street was afterwards opened. There was a little ticket oSice at the side 
of the road. 

A railroad anecdote comes in here. Years ago a conductor of the Reading 
branch was going to New York as a passenger. He fell asleep and as the 
train slowed up at a station he awoke, and thinking himself at liis customary 
work, jumped up and shouted '" Tioga," much to the amusement of some gen- 
tlemen who knew him. 



136 ■ GERMANTOWN. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Price street cut the land of the late Eli K. Price and bears his name. As 
we go up it with its Grecian front, meets us, and we subjoin a short sketch of 
its history. It stands on the right hand side of the street, on high ground, 
overlooking the Main street depot. 

Steps looking to the organization of a Baptist Church in Germantown were 
taken as early as 1837, but with tlie closing of Haddington College, in 1841, 
the effort was abandoned. In 1851, the Rev. J. M. Richards, D. D., began to 
preach in Germantown, and in 1852 organized the First Baptist Church with 
a membership of seventy-three. The Second and Third Baptist Churches have 
since arisen, children of the mother, the First. Some thirteen hundred per- 
sons have been connected with the church, and the present membership is 
four hundred. The following gentlemen liave served the church as pastors 
since the resignation of Dr. Richards : The Revs. C. W. Anable, D. D., War- 
ren Randolph, D. D., A. H. Lung, Thomas A. Gill, M. C. Thwing, E. N. Harris, 
J. 0. Critchlow, and J. S. James, who is the present incumbent. Although 
never pastor of the church, one of the most active and efficient of its founders 
was the Rev. J. Newton Brown, D. D., whose body rests at the west entrance 
of the church. 

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

A little above, on tlie other side, is St. Vincent de Paul's Roman Catholic 
Church. This parish is under the care of the Lazarist Fathers, an order noted 
as workers in Poland and Spain. They are named from the priory of St. 
Lazarus, in Paris, where they organized. Father Byrne is now in charge of 
the parish, and Fathers Walters and Henelly assist him. The parish was 
founded about forty years ago. The present incumbent is doing a noble work 
in erecting a splendid parochial building to cost between forty and fifty thou- 
sand dollars. It is an ornament to the town, being of fine architecture. It is 
of Germantown stone, plastered. There are two schools connected with the 
parish. The chapel on Chelten avenue, corner of Magnolia avenue, is under 
its care. Three Temperance Societies are connected with the parish. The 
various rooms of the parish building are convenient. I know of no better 
building of the kind in this city. The architect is Capt. Biand de Morainville, 
a Frenchman, formerly an engineer in the French army. The upper story is 
a Sundaj^ school room and children's chapel, capable of seating 1800. In the 
basement are rooms for games and bath rooms and a gymnasium. Thus this 
good priest wishes to make the house a home for his people, and to guide their 
innocent amusements and recreations. Bisliop Domenec, of Pittsburg, was 
formerly at the head of this parish. Some Germantowners doubtless remem- 
ber the genial man. He was a native of Spain and returned to that country, 
where he died. ' The fine frescoes in the interior of the church, above the 
chancel and dome, represent scenes in the life of the good and benevolent 



GERiVIANTOWN. 137 

Frenchman, St. Vincent de Paul, who would have delighted to see his memory 
honored hy such aid to the poor as the parish building will give. 

Townsend Ward left the following note. Mr. Charles Weiss, shortly before 
his death, informed me that the {)erson's name was John Ellison : " About 
half way between Price street and Rittenhouse, on the east side of the Main 
street, there lived some sixty or seventj^ years ago, a man, large in size and of 
an appearance so striking that one could see that he had been born to a bet- 
ter position than he then occupied. He never labored — it was easy to see that 
he could not. He was exceedingly well educated, but he was an inebriate, 
and this made it impossible that lie could be entrusted with affairs of any im- 
portance. When lamps were established along the Main street, he was employed 
bj^ the citizens to take charge of them. He did so tolerably well, and he cried 
the hours, when he could, and it is remembered that it was in a stentorian 
voice of a somewhat remarkable power. He was an attendant at the services 
of the Episcopal Church, but it was known that at times, perhaps Easter, he 
prepared the communion, and partook of it alone. He was thouglit to have 
been an English nobleman, but it is most probable that he was of a fa.mily of 
position, and that he had been a priest of the Established Church, degraded 
because of his unfortunate habit." 

Numbers 5015 and 5017, east side of Main street, belong to the estate of Mrs. 
Caroline Potter. Her husband, William Potter, formerly made this house 
his residence. He died in 1869. The place has been in the Beck and Potter 
families over a century. Mrs. Potter's maiden name was Conrad, and that of 
her mother Beck. 

There is a tradition that a British soldier, at the battle of Germantown, in 
retreating, demanded something at this house, which was refused, when he at- 
tempted to enter the doorway on horseback. 

Formerly there was a half-door and pent-house here, but the building has 
been altered and modernized by William A. Potter. The original place had 
about two and a half acres of ground, extending directly in the rear to Jacob 
Floyd's garden, which was noted for its strawberries. The rear garden was 
adorned with boxwood and cedars, which have departed. The house is now 
divided into two stores, occupied by Miss Fannie Creighton and Mrs. Elkins 
and Mrs. Bryan. There was a vacant lot on the south, which belonged to the 
estate, on which five brick stores have been built. The toll gate rested on the 
curb of the vacant lot, almost directly opposite Rittenhouse street. Mr. W. F. 
Potter affords me this information. 

TOLL GATE. 

The toll gate of the Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike stood on Main 
street, opposite Poor House Lane, laow Rittenhouse street. Ward preserved an 
anecdote concerning it. An early keeper, who felt a pride in Germantown, 



138 GERMANTOWN. 

was asked by Judge Peters (or some say the Judge merely narrated the story), 
where Cliveden was, as he was to drive there. The keeper repUed that Mr. 
Chew's house, " was sjoost above old Jake's," and on asking who was old Jake, 
the answer "was received, "Why, don't you know old Jake? Then you don't 
know nothing." Old Jake was a renowned stocking-weaver. The direction 
was a little plainer than that of a Dutchman, who told a man that the house 
he sought stood by the side of " a leetle yaller dog." 

The last keeper of the gate was the noted Enos Springer, a Pennsylvania Ger- 
man, whose broad face was full of good nature. He was shrewd and independ- 
ent, and humorous, and his public life brought him in contact with many 
people ; and his quaint sayings are yet reported. He was a worker in fancy 
wood- work, and an old Germantown boy has spoken to me of his famous sleds 
and jumpers. He owned several houses. He ojaened Springer street through 
. his property. 

Samuel Harvey was the first President of the Turnpike Company and 
Charles Nice and Jacob Rittenhouse were Superintendents for a long time. 

As Temple Bar, between Fleet street and the Strand, in London, though 
built by Sir Christopher "Wren, and adorned with royal statues has lately been 
removed on account of the pressure of city life, so the Germantown toll gate 
departed, and the driver is relieved of trouble as he passes along Main street, 
though the antiquarian may long for a sight of the old gate with its jolly 
keeper. 

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 

The building, numbered 5021, on the east side of Main street, is the home 
of the Young Men's Christian Association. It was formerly the First Pres- 
byterian Church and the grave yard is yet in the rear. The foundation of 
this institute is chiefly due to the late William Adamson, the founder of the 
Wakefield Presbyterian Church. He was an elder in the Ohelten avenue 
church when the work was established on a sure footing. He made himself 
responsible for its current expenses, and advanced much to purchase the 
present building, as Dr. Dripps notes in his " History of the First Presbyterian 
Church." He was the first president. The body was organized January 9, 
A. D. 1871. The association partially reimbursed Mr. Adamson, but he gave 
them a large donation. They took possession of the present building in 1873. 
Before that time they were located at No. 4767 Main street, having the upper 
stories of that building. The present building is free of debt, a mortgage hav- 
ing been paid during the past year. 

Mr. William Brockie succeeded Mr. Adamson as president. He served for 
several years. He is the president of the Maritine Exchange. The present 
president is W. B. Whitne}'. Vice presidents: J. Bayard Henrj^, William 
Brockie, John T. Roberts, H. S. Rorer and W. G. Spencer; treasurer, Charles 
A. Spiegel ; secretary, W. E. Wayte. 

The successful work of the society still goes on. It strives to further the 
physical, intellectual, social and spiritual improvement of j^oung men. The 




THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, MAIN STREET. 



GERMANTOWN. 141 

membership is four hundred and fifty. There is a library and a large hall, 
where frequent entertainments take place. A gymnasium, lecture-room, chess 
and checker room and bath-room afford pleasure and comfort. There is a 
Boys' Branch with its separate library for their use. A Ladies' Auxiliary has 
aided in furnishing and embellishing the building. Such good work is needed 
in training and Christianizing the young, and it deserves high commendation. 

The fine large house of E. H. Butler, the publisher, with its striking portico 
and conservatory and ample grounds, is a marked feature of the east side of 
Main street. Formerly John Rose owned the property, and a slaughter house 
stood on a portion of it. The Moravian records in Philadelphia contain the 
names of Peter Rose, who died at Germantown, A. D. 1740, and of his daugh- 
ter, Mary M. Rose, who was born in South Carolina, September, 1737, and came 
to Germantown with her parents in November, 1739. The mother's name was 
Catharine. Another daughter was named Ann C. Rose. She was born in 
Germantown, January 1, 1740. This may be the same family. 

In 1831 William Lehman and his wife Mary deeded the propertj^ to Thomas 
Seddon. The house occupied by Lehman and Seddon stood on the street, at 
the lower end of the lawn. This two-stoiy stuccoed house was demolished by 
E. H. Butler, father of the present owner. It had a gable roof similar to that 
of 5041 Main street, which is owned by Edgar H. Butler, but was formerly 
Mrs. Harkinson's propert}^ 

After Seddon's ownership follows that of William Rose and wife in 1836. 
Frederick Seckel owned the place from 1845 to 1 856, when the father of the 
present owner obtained it. Mr. Seckel built a house which E. H. Butler 
altered and enlarged, and in 1874 Edgar H. Butler, his son, reconstructed and 
again enlarged the mansion. In 1885 he improved and beautified it. Six 
houses have been built by him in the rear. He has increased the homestead 
by purchase from the Morris-Littell estate on the northwest, and the property 
now covers about four acres. He also purchased William Williams's property 
on Haines street. Mr. Butler deserves credit for the manner in which he has 
improved and kept in order the properties owned by him in Germantown. 
Such a man is a public benefactor. 

We now cross the street and return to Chelten avenue. Near the shoe 
store on Chelten avenue was originally the Fountain Inn, owned by the 
Wister estate and occupied by H. B. Bruner. 

North of this inn was the house of Mr. Ogilby, a carpenter and builder. It 
is now a tailor shop. The Ogilby property ran from the hotel to the Insur- 
ance Building, including that building. The shop is thought to be one hun- 
dred years old. 

A frame building on the lower side of the allej'^ was Conrad Carpenter's 
house. George W. Carpenter was born on this place in a liouse which has 
passed away. 



142 GERMANTOWN. 

John Smith built a house on the corner of Rittenhouse and Main streets, on 
the lower side of Rittenhouse. He was the son of Peter Smith, a Pennsylvania 
German. The house was three stories high. The place now belongs to the 
Daniel Keyser estate. John Smith was a skillful blacksmith and accumulated 
a property. His shop was where Engard's confectionery, formerly Harkinson's, 
now stands. 

Matthias Adam Hogermoed owned the ground where the Town Hall stands. 
Ward states that an act of Assembly, April 10, 1848, authorized tlie erection 
of the Town Hall. — Pennsylvania Magazine of History, No. 3, of Vol. 6, p. 283. 

The Town Hall is where Samuel Harvey's residence stood, from whom 
Harvey street takes its name. His son Samuel died about a year ago. His 
house was removed to make way for the Hall. It was a stone building, 
erected about 1800. He owned the land from Main street to Township Hne. 
He was one of the early Methodists who assisted the weak society, and was a 
local preacher. He belonged to the Haines Street Church. The Infant School, 
on Haines street, near Main, was the First Methodist Church in Germantown. 
The corner stone M'as laid by Mrs. Dorothy Reger, who also made a prayer at 
the service. Samuel Harvey was Burgess of Germantown. 

THE ENGLE HOUSE. 

The Engle house was built by Benjamin Engle in A. D. 1758. He willed 
this property to his son Charles, who willed it to his son George, who gave it by 
will to his son, Charles B. Engle, who now occupies it. It is an old-fashioned, 
pleasant, strongly-built double-house, of stone. The parlor has the old style 
window seats. The inner doors of yellow pine' have panels of white cedar. 
The old stone out-buildings in the rear were a tannery. A rear room on the 
first floor has a wainscot over the fire-place and the hall is thus adorned likewise, 
while the door of the back hall is a double one. Woodwork covers a portion 
of the wall, but the windows have been modernized. The old iron-bound 
chests of the early emigrants of the family are still preserved. 

The name of the ancestor, Paul Engle, is on the oldest-marked stone in the 
graveyard at Skippack, dated 1723. In 1703 Paul Engle declined to be a 
burgess in Germantown for conscientious reasons. 

Elizabeth Engle, wife of Charles, saw the wounded General Agnew carried 
past her house on a door. One of the familj^'s horses was taken by the English, 
and a poor one put in its place. ; 

As one leaves this gray stone house, which has sheltered generations, he 
notes the water-shed which breaks the first and second story in front, which is 
curved into a slight canopy over the front door, while the old-fashioned cellar 
door serves as another mark of one of the ancient homes of Germantown. 

THE MORRIS— LITTELL HOUSE. 

The antique English looking house, with its latticed windows, at the south- 
east corner of Main and High streets, would draw the notice even of a passing 




•'■■'Hi-^ Mti'"'" i.i,,aiTi-.^-. ~:r-H««w. 



E. H. BUTLER'S RESIDENCE. 



GERMANTOWN. 143 

stranger. My friend, C. Willing Littell, Esq., kindly gives the following 
sketch of it : — 

" This ' quaint house with its broken angles,' and grounds with the compara- 
tively narrow frontage, but extended depth, characteristic of old Germantown, 
was, from 1812 until January 11, 1853, the date of her death, the residence of 
Mrs. Ann Willing Morris. Mrs. Morris was a daughter of Charles Willing, a 
merchant, and a member of a family prominent among the merchants of this 
city in the days of the mercantile pre-eminence of Philadelphia. He was a 
descendant paternally of Major General Thomas Harrison and Simon Mayne, 
two of the members of the Court, which condemned Charles I. His father, 
Charles Willing, was Mayor of Philadelphia in 1748 and in 1754, in which 
year he died from ship fever, contracted in the discharge of his official duties. 
His mother, Anne, n6e Shippen, was the sister of Chief Justice Edward 
Shippen. Through her he was descended from Edward Shippen, appointed 
the first Mayor of Philadelphia in its charter by William Penn, October 25, 
1701, was the first named to the Provincial Council in 1701, and was President 
of the Council in 1702-4. His elder brother, Thomas Willing, occupied many 
positions of trust and honor. His signature was the first affixed to the non- 
importation resolutions of 1764. He was the first President of the Bank of 
North America, chartered by Congress in 1781, and afterwards the President of 
the first Bank of the United States, Mayor of Philadelphia, Secretary to the 
Congress of Delegates at Albany, President of the Provincial Congress, and 
delegate to the Congress of the Confederation. Mr. Charles Willing, the father 
of Mrs. Morris, lived for many years in Barbadoes, and died March 21, 1788, 
at Coventry Farm, Delaware county, Pa. His remains are interred in Christ 
Church burial ground, Philadelphia. His portrait, by Benjamin West, with 
those of his mother, Mrs. Anne Willing, by Charles Peale, and of his daughter, 
Mrs. Ann Willing Morris, by Eicholz, are in the possession of his great-grand- 
son, Mr. Charles Willing Littell. 

"Mrs. Morris was the widow of Luke Morris, a descendant of Anthony 
Morris, who came to America in 1683, and was second Mayor of the city 
of Philadelphia in 1703-4. Mr. Luke Morris died March 20, 1802, at his 
residence, Peckham, which then stood with its spacious grounds extending to 
the Delaware, and was included in the district of Southwark. He is interred 
in the Friends' burial ground, at the corner of Fourth and Arch streets, 
Philadelphia. 

" Mrs. Morris was a lady of great mental energy ai:id remarkable attainments. 
She never lost the vigor and freshness of her eaily and Revolutionary associa- 
tions, predilections, and principles. One morning, soon after the occupancy of 
these premises, during the war of 1812-15, a company of troops from Mont- 
gomery county, on the march to join the American forces in Philadelphia, 
halted to rest in front of her house. It was at once thrown open, its supplies 
were all appropriated, as many of the men who could be accommodated were 
heartily invited within it, while the steps and curb were covered with refresh- 



144 GERMANTOWN. 

ments for the defenders of what was to her a sacred cause. She was one of the 
originators of St. Luke's parish ; her name appears in its first subscription 
list, in 1811. She was a kind friend and sympathetic neighbor. It is believed 
that no one in distress ever left her house, during her life or those of her 
daughters, the Misses Elizabeth Carrington and Margaretta Hare Morris, 
without relief. Such, at least, were the orders of this household. 

" The garden, so protected by its trees and shrubbery as to retain the attrac- 
tions of its original seclusion, was for many years the beautiful scene of the 
scientific researches of Miss Ehzabetli Carrington Morris, who, retiring in 
disposition, was an accomplished botanist, and numbered among her many 
scientific correspondents Dr. William Huttall, Dr. William C. Darlington, of 
West Chester, and Dr. Asa Gray, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her collection 
of rare plants, cultivated and preserved, was celebrated among many, whose 
refined taste led them to pursue with her this course of study. Her garden 
was her Eden, and the greenhouses of Messrs. Thomas Meehan and Henry C. 
Waltemate, were her favorite resorts. 

" In these grounds Miss Margaretta H. Morris pursued her investigations 
which led, among other results, to the discovery of the habits of that scourge 
of American agriculturists, the seventeen year locusts, enabled her to predict 
with accuracy their periodical appearance, and to direct effectual protection 
against their ravages. She was the first and for many years the only lady 
elected to membership of the Pennsylvania Academy of Natural Sciences. 

" Time, which is transforming Germantown so rapidly, is fast obliterating 
the memories of its distinguished characteristics. On the premises, whicli form 
the subject of this sketch, before their occupation by Mrs. Morris, near the 
boundary line of Mr. E. H. Butler stood an old house, once the residence 
of Fraley, some of whose descendants yet remain in Germantown, who was a 
pupil of Dr. Christopher Witt. Although they cast nativities, used rods to 
discover proper localities for sinking wells, and were called conjurors, they 
should not be confounded, as they too often are by local tradition, with ordi- 
narj^ charlatans and soothsayers. Dr. Witt was a physician of no ordinary 
acquirement, although a believer in Rosicrucian philosophy. Fraley was an 
expert and valuable herb doctor. The simplicity of his practice will not 
be considered, in our day of discovery, an argument against it, or be con- 
demned as empiric, because not understood. It is believed that he was 
interred in the old burial ground, on which, and on the adjoining lot given to 
St. Michael's parish, by Miss Elizabeth Carrington Morris, St. Michael's Church 
now stands. The east window of this church was inserted by Miss Margaret 
Hare Morris as a memorial to her brother. Both these ladies were among the 
founders of St. Michael's parish, and among its most liberal contributors. 

" Miss Elizabeth Carrington died February 12th, 1865, and Miss Margaret 
Hare Morris, May 29th, 1867, in their old homestead. Their remains repose 
with those of their brother, in the family lot, in the cemetery of St. Luke's 
Church, Germantown. 




THE MORRIS— LITTELL HOUSE, MAIN AND HIGH STREETS. 



GERMANTOWN. 147 

" After the death of Miss Margaretta Hare Morris, this house was occupied by 
Mr. John S. Littell, and his wife, Mrs. Susan S. Littell, the youngest daughter 
of Mrs. Morris, and from 1869 to 1879 by Mr. Charles Wilhng Littell, her 
grandson. It remains the projjerty of her familJ^ 

" Mr. Littell's ancestors were, on his father's side, among the earliest settlers 
of East, and on his mother's, of West Jersey. He was a descendant of Captain 
Eliakim Littell, a partisan Artillery officer in New Jersey when this State w'as 
the battle ground of our Eevolutionary "War. The uniforms of his company, 
supplied by patriotic ladies' of Newark, were blue, and thus originated the 
soubriquet "Jersey Blues." Mr. Littell was maternally descended from 
Anthony Elton, who came to New Jerse}' in 1697, and from Thomas Gardiner, 
who came to Burlington, New Jersey, in 1676. He was one of the founders of 
the city of Burlington, and for manj^ years a member of the Provincial Gov- 
ernor's Council. His son, also named Thomas Gardiner, was Treasurer of the 
Western Division, and first Speaker of the Assembly after the union of East 
and West Jersey in 1703. 

" Thomas Willing, the only son of Luke and Ann Willing Morris, was born 
in Philadelphia, October 25, 1792. He was a member of the Philadelphia bar. 
During the whiskey insurrection he served as an aid to General Cadwalader, 
for the short time the difficulties averted by the wisdom of President Washing- 
ton, were impending. He married Miss Caroline M. Calvert, daughter of Mr. 
George Calvert, of Riversdale, Maryland. After his retirement from practice, 
Mr. Morris moved to Maryland, where he lived for manj^ years. He died May 
12, 1852, at his seat, Glenthorne, Howard county. His remains are interred in 
the family lot, Laurel Hill." 

As to the Littell family it is but proper to add that they were long, faithful 
and laborious members of St. Luke's Church. 

WYCK. 

Before Germantown Road was opened, the oldest part of the present Haines 
residence was built. The ancient passage way through this section was an 
Indian track, running through low ground, near the present Adams street. 
The end of the house adjoining the street w^as probably built after the opening 
of the road, as formerly a door and windows opened upon it. The name 
" Wj'ck " comes from an English residence. It means white, and by a coin- 
cidence suits this very white house. 

The casual passer-by cannot but be struck with the quaint beauty of the old 
white two-story rambling mansion. The house is a delightful antique, and the 
air of antiquity has been well preserved. 

A peculiar opening in the front forms a recess hj reason of certain altera- 
tions in the building. The house is entered by a door which faces the yard. 
The fact that the house stands endwise to the street gives it an individuality 
which was unstudied, but makes a picturesque idea for artists to imitate. The 



148 GERMANTOWN. 

ancient brass knocker, which supplements the modern bell, is in keejang 
with the surroundings. 

Within, the rooms are light and pleasant. The old fire-place yet does duty- 
The antique, dull-looking glass Wist^r goblet is yet in its old home. There is 
a pretty kitchen with its small window panes and brick floor. The fine old 
door, with its strap hinges, has been worn at the handle by the many who have 
opened and closed it in the years that are gone. The stone step is deeply 
indented where generations have trodden upon it. The ample yard with its 
shrubbery, and the projecting chimney with its vines, make a pretty picture. 
The property formerly included John Welsh's estate, which was called " The 
Wood Lot." I here'add manuscript left by Townsend Ward: — 

"W^yck, 'Lot No. 17, towards Schuylkill,' as laid down on Zimmerman's 
plan of Germantowii, is a fine property extending along the avenue from No. 
5056 to Walnut lane, and formerly reaching back as far as the Township Line. 
It has come down from the earliest proprietor by inheritance, and for a long 
time through the female line. And thus it was : Hans Millan took the prop- 
erty between 1683 and 1689. His daughter Margaret married Diedrick, 
called Dirck Jansen, now Johnson. Their daughter Catharine, born in 1703 
married Caspar Wistar. Margaret, a daughter of the last, married Reuben 
Haines, born in 1728, at Enshom, N. J. His grandfather, John Haines, was 
settled in New* Jersey as early as 1683. He had a large family and a number 
of sons, one of whom was Josiah, who died on the 28th of December, 1728, 
leaving an only son, the above Reuben, who, in 1760, married in Philadelphia 
the Margaret Wistar spoken of above. She was more than a true Wistar, for 
she wrote her name not only thus, but also at times Wister. Her father 
founded the first glass w^orks in -New Jersey, at Salem, in 1740. One of the 
products of these glass works is an old tumbler still preserved at Wyck. It 
has engraved on it 'Margareta Visterin, 1751,' showing that the maker must 
have been a German to have given the feminine termination to the name, as 
well as the V instead of W. The memory of her great worth and excellence 
is preserved in the ' Memorials of Rebecca Jones.' Their only son, Caspar 
Wistar Haines, was probably the first of the name to come to Germantown. 
He was one of the originators of the turnpike, and became its treasurer. He 
married Hannah, daughter of Benjamin and granddaughter of Christopher 
Marshall, whose memory will not fade away in this community, for he kept 
his famous ' Remembrancer,' in which he recorded the events of each day 
throughout the Revolutionary War, closing September 24, 1781. The only 
son of Caspar Wistar Haines was Reuben, who came down to nearly our own 
time. He married a daughter of Robert Boune, of New York, who was a 
grandson of Captain John Underbill, of Massachusetts, of fighting memory. 
Reuben Haines was a member of the Philosophical Society, and, in its first 
year, of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Of this latter he was secretary 
until his death. 




"WYCK," THE RESIDENCE OF MRS. HAINES. 



GERMANTOWN. 149 

" There can be but little doubt that the house at Wyck was built by Dirck 
Jansen before 1700, and perhaps begun earlier by Hans Millan, and that it is, 
therefore, perhaps the oldest house in Germantown. Considerable additions 
were made to it in the last century, and some alterations about sixty years 
ago. At that time a huge chimney stack occupied the center of the older half 
of the building. When this was taken down two large ovens in it were also 
removed, one of which had been walled in, so that its existence was unknown 
to the residents. With the material of the chimnej^ and ovens there was built 
an extensive wall at the foot of the lawn. It is a striking looking building, 
standing with the gable end to the avenue, its front of eighty feet facing south- 
eastwardl}'. Its width varies from twenty feet to thirty. Of immaculate 
white, with a chimney stack outside, this house situated among the fine trees 
that ornament extensive grounds, is one of the many agreeable features of 
Germantown. Of course Wyck bore its part in the battle, and its floor is yet 
stained with the blood of the wounded soldiers who were carried into the house 
during the engagement. 

" When General Lafayette revisited this country in the year 1824 he of course 
was invited to Germantown. In the latter part of September he was enter- 
tained by R. Haines, and held a reception in the old house, when he was 
introduced by Mr. C. J. Wister, to the ladies of the town. During part of the 
time the General sat in an arm chair .that belonged to Dr. Franklin, and which 
he had brought from France on his return from his embassy there. This chair 
now belongs to Mr. John S. Haines. On the occasion of the reception it was 
placed in the Hall, which has large folding doors both front and back. The 
visitors passed into the grounds by the lower gate, then through the Hall to be 
presented, and out through the garden by the upper gate, which now is appar- 
ently closed to visitors. 

" General La Fayette was a wonderfully popular man. Mr. John Armistead 
Carter, of Loudon county, Va., has told ine that when on his way to Yale 
College, the General was traveling in that direction at the same time, and that 
the roads all the way from New York were literally crowded with people, horses 
and vehicles. Perhaps this unwonted popularity arose from a nice regard for 
the feelings of all who approached him." 

On the seventh day of the Third month, 1691, Thomas Lloyd, Deputy 
Governor, granted naturalization to sixty-four of the first inhabitants of Ger- 
mantown. By act of Assembly, 1708, these and some others were again 
declared naturalized. 

North of Church lane, or Mill street. Ward's diagram gives the following 
ancient lot owners on the east side of Main street, going north : 10, James 
Delaplaine ; a second lot, both opposite the Market, is marked 10 also and 
bears the name Dirck Kolk, and Wiggart Levering afterwards ; 11, Herman 
A^on Bown; 12, Hans Seller, Gerhard Levering; 13, John Henry Sprogel, 
Isaac Sheffer, Henry Buckholtz and Frankfort Company. Then comes Haines 



150 GERMANTOWN. 

street. 14, Paul Kestner, Cornelius Bonn ; 15, Daniel Geissler, Isaac Hilbeck ; 
16, Francis Daiiiel Pastorius, Euneke Klosterman, first owner; 17, John 
Doeden ; 18, Christian Warner, Sr., Andreas Souplis ; 19, Arnold Von Fossen, 
William Rittenhouse, Baptist Burying-ground, 1766 ; 20, Paul Engle, Claus 
Rittenhouse; 21, Hans Henrj^ Lane, Claus Rittenhouse; 22, DirckKeyser; 23, 
Paul Engle, "William Streepers. 

THE SPROGELL FAMILY. 
From Public and Church Records, Communicated by George F. Lee. 

Johanes Henrick Sprogell (first), born October 11, 1644, in Quedlinburg, 
Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, died February 25, 1722, at Stolpe, was married 
in 1674 to Susanna Margaretta Wagner, only daughter of Michael Wagner, a 
well-known musician of Quedlinburg. She died in 1730 ; they had six 
children — (First), Salome Margaretta, born August 17, 1675; (Second) Anna 
Sophia, born June 7, 1677 ; (Third) Johanes Heindrick, born February 12 
1679 ; (Fourth) Anna Mariah, born March 27, 1681 ; (Fifth) Ludwig Christian, 
born July 16, 1683 ; died June 5, 1729, in Philadelphia ; buried in the Quaker 
ground. (Sixth) Anna Elizabeth, born April 5, 1686; died December 20, 
1760, as the widow Hoppin. All the children were born in Quedlinburg, except 
Anna Sophia, who was born in Lebus, on the Oder. 

He was an eminent divine and man of culture, was instrumental in eradi- 
cating useless ceremonies from the Lutheran Church, prominent among which . 
was having the hymns translated into the German, as the worshipers could 
not understand the Latin, and as he said would go to sleep. 

He was first teacher of the Seminary at Quedlinburg and pastor at Werbin 
in the Altmark for seven years up to 1705, when he was called to the Marion 
Kirche (St. Mary's), at Stolpe, an important historical church of the Four- 
teenth Century; he remained in charge up to the time of his death, and was 
buried in the church aisle in front of the altar near the Baptismal Font. 

In 1724 his widow and son, John Henry (second), had his remains removed 
to the chapel on the estate of Baron De Bandem. Salome Margarepha, the 
first child, married a Mr. Zeissing in Germany. Anna Sophia, second child, 
was born in Lebus on the Oder, and married Paster Fortreman. 

Johanes Henrick (second), third child, came to Philadelphia about 1700, 
naturalized 1705 ; he was a man of great business enterprise, shipping mer- 
chant and large land owner. He had the historical law suit with Pastorius, 
which was settled by Pastorius taking the Germantown tract, and Sprogell a 
tract of some 22,000 on the Schuylkill, composing a large part of Hanover 
Township, and site of Pottstown, Montgomery County ; he also had large tracts 
on the opposite side of the river. He donated fifty acres for a church, and the 
land for the Sprogell buriah ground in Pottstown. His home was on the 
Schuylkill at the mouth of Sprogell Run. 




FRIENDS' FREE LIBRARY. 



GERMANTOWN. 151 

He married Dorothea ; she died in 1718. Tliey had five children 

that we know of. Dorothea married Jas. Boyer, on June 5, 1732; they 
had a daughter Susanna, wlio married; they left decendants. Rebecca, it is 
supposed, married Thomas Graves. John Henry (third), married Johana 

Christiana ; they had a daughter Susanna, who married Michael Bard ; 

left descendants. Frederick and Margaret died young, and are buried with 
their mother in the Sprogell ground at Pottstown. 

Anna Mariah, the fourth child, lived at Perlebery in the Altmark, as the 
widow of Godfreid Arnold; he was a poet, historian and theologian, and took 
an active part with his father-in-law, John H. Sprogell, the pastor, in the 
Church Reforms, and was author of German hymns. G. F. Lee has a copy of 
the memoir of his life Ludwig Christian, the fifth child, came to Philadelphia 
about 1700, with his brother, John Henry. They were naturalized 1705. 
He was prominent in colonial and municipal affairs of that early day. " See 
Colonial Records, Vol. 3, page 201, etc." He gave a number of volumes to 
Christ Church Librarj^, and imported the old historical organ. 

He married Catherine ; they had two children, Susanna Catherine 

and John Lodowick. Susanna married Doctor Thomas Say, of Philadelphia, 
on June 15, 1734. She died in 1749 ; they had eight children who all died 
leaving no descendants. 

John Lodowick, married Mary — '■ ; we have her portrait in oil ; she was 

a fine queenly looking person. He was an active citizen and business man. 
Muster Master General for Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary war. They 
had three children, Catherine, Lodowick and John. Catherine married 
Samuel Morgan, son of Rev. Abel Morgan ; they had a daughter Mary, who 
married Erasmus Kelly, the pastor of the First Baptist Church at Newport, 
R. I., from 1771 to 1784. Left issue, John Callender. 

Lodowick married Margaret Yorke, and left descendants. 

John, married, first, Ann Crostin ; second, Elizabeth Towne. By the first 
marriage had Edward, Mary, Eleanor, Charlotte and Ann. Edward married 
Elizabeth Marshall; had six children, John, David, Elizabeth, Ann, 'David 
Marshall, Edward Crostin. 

Elizabeth married Stephen B. Lassalle ; issue : 

Ann married Commodore Thompson Shaw ; descendants : 

David Marshall married Matilda Bird ; issue : 

Edward Crostin married Rosanna Elkins ; issue : 

John Sprogell, son of John Lodowick Sprogell and his wife Mary, had five 
children by his second marrage to Elizabeth Towne, namely, John, Lodowick, 
Elizabeth, Ann and Benjamin. 

John married ; no descendants known. Lodowick married Margaret Jenkins ; 
left issue one son, William and descendants. 

Elizabeth married Franklin Lee; issue: Ann died unmarried. Benjamin 
died young. 



152 GERMANTOWN. 

Ann Elizabeth, the sixth child, married first to Pastor Christian Lippe at 
Stolpe, Germany, came to Pennsylvania and died as the widow Hoppin. 
Buried in the old Trappe ground, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She 
left descendants by name of Custer. 

Franklin Lee and Elizabeth Sprogell were married, as above ; they had 
eight children. Elizabeth died young. Geo. F. married first to Mary Gentry; 
issue all deceased. Married second to Mary H. Davis; descendants. Char- 
lotte married Samuel T. Altemus; issue: Elizabeth Ann died young. 
John married Caroline Piper; issue: Rebecka .married Lemuel H. Davis-; 
had issue, all deceased. The above information was collected in Germany, 
by Lemuel H. Davis, of Riverton, New Jersey. 

Old Germantown ended at Abington road, now called Washington lane. 
Engle's lot is also marked Anna Morris or Malson, Anna Reisler, Mary 
Morris last. 

"We now go back to School lane and return northward, noting lots on the 
west side : 10, Heinert Papen, Dr. Bensell ; 11, Jacob Jansen Kleingen after- 
wards Tunis Conrad ; 12, Cornelius Siverts (Shuard) ; 13, Hans Peter Umstad, 
George Adam Hogermoed, 1766, Peter Shoemaker. Next follows Rittenhouse 
road. Then 14, Jacob Tellner; 15, Jurian Hartsfelder, Hogermoed, 1766; 16, 
Claus Thompson; 17, Hans Milan, afterwards Dirck Johnson; this is the 
Haines place; 19, Henry Frey; 20, Abraham op den Graeff; a second 20, 
Aret Klinken ; 21, John Stilpers. 

Washington lane was called Abingdon road, as it led from Roxborough to 
Abingdon. The Keyser family owned a large tract below this road, on the 
east side, a century or more ago. The Johnsons also owned a large section on 
the west side of Main street. 

The Rev. Dr. Murphy kindly contributes the following sketish of a High 
street parish and edifice : 

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH. 

" St. Michael's Church was the outgrowth of an effort in 1858 to establish a 
mission as the child of St. Luke's, called ''The Holy Cross.' When the parish 
of Calvary Church was started, the minister in charge of the mission of the 
Holy Cross moved with its members to the number of about thirty farther lip 
town, and began services at St. Michael's Church in the hall now on Lafayette 
street, December 5, 1858. The organization was effected in the house No. 5041, 
by the formation of a vestry and the election of the Rev. J. P. Hammond as 
rector. This house was afterwards leased to the parish for eight years as the 
residence of the present rector. A lot of ground was offered and accepted for 
a church building, on High street, beyond Hancock. The donor was Miss 
Elizabeth C. Morris, to whom the altar window in the church was afterwards 
a memorial. The condition of her gift was that the edifice to be erected on 
the site should be forever a ' free seated ' church. It was 150 feet front by 125 



GERMANTOWN. 155 

in depth. There' was a small private burial lot upon it in a sad condition of 
neglect, and the place was known in the neighborhood as ' Mount Misery.' 
The first sod on the site of the new church was turned over by the rector, 
April, 18, 1859. Its corner stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Bowman, 
Assistant of the Diocese, April 29, and five months after precisely, St. Michael's 
Day, September 29, 1859, it was opened for divine service. At that service the 
Rev. T. Gardiner Littell, a nephew of the lady who had given the ground for 
the church, was ordained deacon, and assumed for awhile the duties of an 
assistant minister. For nearlj' two years it had a very prosperous history, 
daily services, frequent eucharists, and its bell was rung at the beginning, the 
middle and the ending of each day. Mr. Littell left in April, 1861, and Mr. 
Hammond resigned the rectorship for a chaplaincy in the army, and a position 
elsewhere on the 5th of August, 18G1. The Rev. Levi Ward Smith became 
the second rector, after a long interval of great depression, July 5, 1862. He 
ministered not only in the church, but as chaplain of the Cuyler General 
Hospital, U. S. A., stationed at Germantown. His health failed and he died, 
deeplj'^ regretted, at the house of his attached friend. Dr. Dunton, December 
23, 1863. The congregation has placed a window in the church in his 
memory. Another year of lay reading and supplies occurred, and the Rev. 
Edward Hyde True accepted the rectorship, December 4, 1864. This third 
rector of the parish labored earnestly for. three years, and resigned, December 
31, 1867. The fourth and present rector. Rev. J. K. Murphy, began his minis- 
try at St. Michael's, January 1, 1868, and after eighteen years still continues it. 
All indebtedness having been paid, the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. 
Bishop Stevens on September 29, 1876. A fine new organ of Hook & Hastings, 
Boston, was placed in the church that same year. A lot adjoining the church 
lot was secured by the vestry and an attractive and comfortable rectory built 
thereon during 1880-1, and occupied by the present rector since April, 1881. 
And a beautiful and convenient parish building has also been lately erected, 
finishing the handsome group of stone buildings which are now regarded as 
an ornament to the neighborhood." 

The Rev. William Ely is the faithful assistant of the rector. The Rev. Dr. 
Littell is now the rector of St. John's Church, Wilmington, Delaware. 

Dr. Dunton's House is on the Pastorius property. A part of the original 
house stood in High street before it was opened. Daniel Pastorius and his 
descendants lived here. This is an ample stone residence with a pleasant yard. 

The Green Tree Tavern was famous in the days of Charles Mackinet. 
The house is now the residence of Dr. Alexis Du Pont Smith. Charles Mackinet 
bought it in 1797, though it is thought probable that he was renting it from 
Heath in 1777. The family tradition is very clear, that the American forces 
pushed down this far at the battle of Germantown. In 1775 John Livezey 
sells this property to Andrew Heath ; in 1797 Heath sells to Mackinet, and in 



156 GERMANTOWN. 

1820 Mackinet deeds it to Charles Mackinet Pastorius. In 1838 the last named 
and wife deed to Jno. D. Wells ; and in 1854 he and his wife deed to Jno. 
Lonfistreth. Two days afterward Longstreth and wife give a deed to Hum- 
phrey Atherton, and the next month Atlierton and wife sign a deed to John 
D. Wells, who, with his wife, in 1850 sell to George W. Carpenter. In Mack- 
inet's time the neighbors called the place the " Hornet's Nest," because the 
biggest nest known in this section of the country was kept there as a curiosity. 
Curinsities of the vicinitj^ were collected here. The tavern was a resort of 
eminent Philadelphians in their drives, and sleighing parties patronized it. 
Mrs. Mackinet was noted for good cooking. She was a Pastorius, and a 
Pastorius afterwards owned it, and so the name of Pastorius House was given 
to it. The building was erected in 1743. The house was built bj' a Pastorius, 
a relative of Francis Daniel Pastorius. The letters D. S. P. are still on 
a stone under the eaves, initials of Daniel and Sarah Pastorius. Daniel is 
supposed to have been the builder. The date on the stone is 1748. Dr. 
Smith thinks that Mackinet married the widow of Daniel Pastorius. When 
La Fayette was in Germantown he dined here, and Miss Ann Chew, at the age 
of 16, presided at the feast. In repairing the old mansion, the present 
owner. Dr. Alexis Du Pont Smith, states that an. antique slipper was found 
under the floor of the third story. It may have been worn by some belle 
of former days, and is a touching reminder of the flight of time. The bright 
young wearer has been forgotten for many a day. The slipper comes to 
a perfect jjoint in front. It is sadly dilapidated. The old house with 
its pent roof has enormous joists, as the repairing workmen found. They 
brought to light nails of wrought iron, beaten out by hand. The old oak 
laths were si^lit by hand. How our ancestors did toil over their work ! General 
Wasliington is suppo.sed to have stayed in this house. Dr. Smith is a son of 
the late Dr. Francis Guriiey Smith, Professor in the University of Pennsyl- 
vania. The Professor's father, F. Gurney Smith, Sr., was the oldest living 
member of the First City Troop, of Philadelphia, in 1873. A testimonial, 
dated Januarj^ 7th, of that year, hangs on the wall of the grandson's office. 
The standard of the Philadelphia Light Horse was presented to that corps by 
Captain Abraham Markoe, 1774-5. Watson tells how the sleighing used to 
continue two or three months in winter, and sleighing parties used to come out 
from the city to Macknett's old tavern, where his son afterwards lived. He 
adds that in summer sailors resorted to the country inns, and young men 
amused themselves with target shooting. 

In the house next to the north of the Green Tree Tavern the Warner family 
lived. The grave-yard in St. Michael's church yard, in High street, was their 
family burying-ground. They were people of importance in their day. The 
original name was Werner. 

THE MENNONITE CHURCH. 

The Mennonite Church is on the east side of Main street just above Herman 
street. Funk's Mennonite Almanac, for 1875, published at Elkhart, Indiana, 




THE MENNONITE CHURCH, AND THE OLD KEYSER HOUSE, THE 
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL KEYSER'S FAMILY. 



GERMANTOWN. 159 

gives an account of this church from which we glean our facts. In A. D. 
1683, a number of Mennonites, so called from Menno Simon, came to German- 
town from Holland or Germany at the invitation of William Penn. Here 
they established the first Mennonite Church in America. They were on good 
terms with their Quaker neighbors in Philadelphia. They found the Indians 
kind on account of Penn's good treatment of them. At first, it is supposed, 
that they held service in private houses, or, in summer, under the shade of 
trees. A school was organized. The first meeting-house was built of logs in 
1708. The building was small and plain. It was u.sed as a school room, and 
Christopher Dock, the pious school master of the Skippack, so well described 
in Pennypacker's Sketches, taught for a long time. Watson says that he was 
teaching here in 1740. Jacob Funk, Andrew Ziegler, and John Minnich were 
among the oldest ministers of the church. Ziegler was a bishop, and Funk 
was a nephew of bishop Henry Funk, of Skippack. Jacob Funk was an able 
preacher and a devoted Christian. He often visited the churches in Bucks and 
Montgomery counties. He died March 11th, A. D. 1816, aged 86. He is 
buried near the church door. His father may have been a minister. Henry 
Seller gave the church lot September 6th, 1714. The present stone church was 
erected in 1770, as the date in front shows. Jacob Keyser, Sen., Nicholas 
Rittenhouse, Abraham Rittenhouse and Jacob Knorr were the building com- 
mittee, appointed January 20th, 1770; the edifice was completed the same year 
at a cost of £202 and 5 shillings, Pennsylvania currency. In 1789 the list of 
communicants, in addition to some family names already given, notes the 
following; Kolb, Moyer, Schreiber, Merewine, Benner, Culp, also Kolp, Nice, 
Engle, Margaret Smith, Da^dd and Mary Getter, John Rife, and Hannes 
Schneider. In 1675 John Funk, aged 81, was living on a farm on Willow 
Grove avenue, several miles from the Meeting-house. It is probable that his 
grandfather Jacob, the minister, occupied the same farm. His father, Jolm, 
was deacon in 1835, and is buried in the grave-yard. The oldest inscription 
reads thus : 

ANNO 1736, 
DEN 16. PEER 11, 

1st h enrich rittenhouse 

GEBOREN ; 
GESTOKBEN DEN 13. PEER. 1760. 

The building is well preserved, and in constant use. The interior has been 
modernized, but is still plain. The old grave-yard with its lowly mounds and 
simple stones, is interesting to the thoughtful mind. The 200th anniversary 
of this church was celebrated not long since. The first log building stood on 
the lower side of the burying-ground, where a building has now been erected. 

No. 5216, Mrs. Hocker's residence, opposite the upper burying ground, was 
dwelt in by the daughters of Jacob Unrod. The Unrod family was large, 
mostly in the female line. The family name has disappeared from Germantown. 



160 GERMANTOWN. 

No. 5145, next below Mr. Channon's, was Henry Moyer's house. He was an 
old resident of Germantown. The Moyers were relatives of the Unrods. 
Next below Moyer's, on the east side, stood Francis Engle's house, now owned 
by Henry Freas. 

No. 5149. This old stone house is the residence of John C. Ghannon. It 
was a Keyser property' a centurj' or more ago. . In the basement is a cellar 
door, which in warm weather exhibits a scene of beauty similar to that in the 
Baldwin conservatory in Chestnut street, though smaller in extent. This is a 
landmark, or rather a flowermark, of Germantown. It is a kindly act to give 
pleasure to so many in the street by thus displaying the glories of God. 
When Henry VVard Beecher began his Western ministry hotels were rare, and 
he selected private houses for spending tbe night in traveling where he saw 
flowers in the window, and in such found comfort. The writer is much in- 
debted to John C. Channon for information about Germantown. 

David Kelter lived where Freas's grocery store stands. The old house is 
gone. Michael Lippard resided in the house below. The building was de- 
stroyed some time ago. It stood on the site of Mr. Freas's residence. 

No. 5177, the Washington tavern, was owned and kept for a long time by 
Daniel Hines, previously by Mr. Sellers, now by Matthew Ifill. 

Nos. 5153 and 5155, being one house, next above Mr. Channon's and next 
below Nice's livery stable, was formerly the abode of Mrs. Hannah Keyser. It 
now belongs to Mrs. Hannah Nice. It was the celebrated old tavern called 
the Wigwam. It was kept for some time bj' Conrad Redheffer. 

Below Lippard's are the houses of George and Frederick Axe. They were 
Revolutionarj' buildings of stone. They have departed. Gideon Keyser's 
house is on the site of Frederick's. 

No. 5165 is Samuel Weaver's former home. It is now owned bj' Dr. Martin 
Weaver. Martin, the father of Samuel, lived there. 

No. 5169, the present shoe store of W^illiam Buzzard, was the property of 
Jacob Bowman. It now belongs to Samuel Nice. 

ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

In passing Harvey street the spire of St. Peter's Episcopal Church calls at- 
tention to its history. On April 8, in the year of our Lord, 1873, Messrs. H. 
H. Houston, E. A. (Jrenshaw, S. B. Kingston, E. Bedlock, J. B. Barry, M. S. 
Shapleigh, J. A. Schaeffer, A. B. Shipley, A. J. Denny and T. R. Ash met to 
form this parish. Mr. H. H. Houston kindly donated a fine plot of ground at 
the corner of Wayne and Harvey streets. Ground was broken. May 20th of this 
year, and Bishop Stevens laid the corner stone, June 30. On November 6, 
Rev. Theodore S. Rumney, D. D., was elected rector ; he assumed charge of 
the parish on December 15. On December 21 (St. Thomas's Day), Bishop 
Stevens opened the new church. The foundations of the Sunday school build- 
ings were laid in the fall of 1873. On March 1, 1874, the Bishop opened them- 



GERMANTOWN. 163 

and twenty persons received confirmation. The cost of the property is 
estimated at about $65,000. A rectory has been added at a cost of $10,000. 
The church was consecrated free of debt. While the parish is largely in- 
debted to Mr. Houston for the gift of land, and assistance in the erection of 
the buildings, they have also done all in their power co further the work. 
The beautifully situated stone church, with its tower and bell; the commo- 
dious rectory and well-arranged school buildings, of the same material, show 
the interest and taste of the layman spoken of and of the congregation com- 
bined. Mr. E. A. Crenshaw has been Accounting Warden from the founda- 
tion of the parish, and still acts in that capacity. Mr. H. H. Houston is 
Sector's Warden. Messrs. Charles Bullock and Joseph A. Schaeffer have been 
Vestrymen from the beginning of the parish. Marshall S. Shapleigh and 
Stephen B. Kingston died during their vestryship, having done efficient ser- 
vice. On the death of Mr. Kingston, his son, H. H. Kingston, was elected 
A^estryman. R. Singleton Peabody is a member of the vestry. Messrs. Edward 
Bedlock and Joseph B. Barry were also members of the vestry at the founding 
of the parish. The vacancies have been filled by the election of S. F. Cham- 
pion and S. K. Kille. Mr. Bedlock, though not in the vestry, is an efficient 
aider in church work. St. Peter's is a live parish, with a large surpliced 
choir and a Guild, embracing many efficient chapters. It does good work at 
home and abroad, and Foreign Missions are not neglected under the plea of 
too much work at home. The new organization has been successful from its' 
beginning, and a splendid future seems to lie before it by reason of the opening 
of the Germantown and Chestnut Hill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
The parish is growing largely, as the last large confirmation class in March, 
'86, indicated. Dr Rumney is the faithful rector, and the church has had but 
one rector. Rev. T. P. Ege was assistant for a time and Rev. H. B. Bryan now 
holds the position. 

An ancient log house formerly stood about where Tulpehocken street breaks 
from Main street on the west side. It was occupied by the family of a colored 
shoemaker named John Douglass. At tlae time that he lived there, perhaps, 
there were not more than one or two colored families in Germantown. 

CHRIST CHURCH. 

In passing along Main street, northward, at Tulpohocken street, if the 
pedestrian turns his eyes westward, he will see the tower of Christ Church. 
The rector, Rev. Dr. J. B. Falkner, gave a sketch of this church and parish in 
tiie preface of a sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. C. M. Butler, at the consecration 
of the church, after it had been rebuilt. We will glean from it. Prior to 1852 
St. Luke's was the only Episcopal Church in Germantown. The northern 
population needed more accommodation, and the town had largely increased 
in number. A meeting was held in June, A. D. 1852, at Mr. Beekman 
Potter's house ; an organization was effected. The Mennonites kindly offered 



164 GERMANTOWN. 

the use of their church, on Main street, to the infant congregation, and on. 
August 15 it was first used. The Rev. Kingston Goddard took the morning 
service and the Rev. Samuel Clark the evening. " Both these servants of God 
have since been called to the Church Triumphant." Services were held in this 
place until October, 1854. Various ministers officiated until Jul}', 1854. 
At that time Rev. A. B. Atkins became rector. The eligible church lot, on 
the corner of Tulpohocken street, was obtained through the kindness of Messrs. 
C. and J. Fallon. More land was afterward bought, extending the lot to 
Washington lane. The building committee were Messrs. P. E. Hamm, T. H. 
Powers, Charles LeBoutillier, T. S. Williams, and John B. Champion, " all of 
whom except two, now rest from their labors. One of the survivors, Mr. Le- 
Boutillier, was a member also of the building committee appointed to super- 
intend tlie erection of the edifice just completed." On May 15, 1854, Bishop 
Alonzo Potter laid the corner stone. Chestnut Hill stone formed the material 
of the church building. It had a steeple 180 feet high. There was a lecture 
room and Sunday school building two stories in height, erected in the rear of 
the church. On the first Sunday in October, 1854, the congregation first used 
the basement of the church for worship. On the last Sunday in May, 1856, 
they entered the new church. The consecration took place on the tenth of July, 
1857. The church has since been blessed temporally and spiritually. Rev. 
A. B. Atkins resigned the rectorship in 1869. Rev. I. Newton Stanger, now 
rector of Holy Trinity Church, Harlem, New York, had temporary charge until 
the spring of 1870. Rev. T. S. Rumnej', D. D., was rector from May, 1870, until 
December, ] 873. Rev. Dr. Falkner became rector on March 8, 1874. He is still 
in charge. In 1878 a hurricane prostrated the steeple, which fell on the roof 
and demolished the church. With laudable energy, on the same evening, a 
movement was made toward building a new church. One week brought out 
subscriptions to justify commencement. Charles Spencer, Charles W. Chandler 
and Charles LeBoutillier were the building committee. More money was 
needed than had been expected, but the congregation cheerfully, with self- 
denial, finished the work. The old stone was placed in the walls, and new 
stone added, so that they are massive. On February 10, 1880, Bishop William 
Bacon Stevens, assisted by Bishop Thomas H. Vail, of Kansas, consecrated the 
church. The rectors of the Germantown churches took part in the service, 
and the various congregations were well represented. Between sixty and 
seventy clergy from city and country were present. The Rev. Dr. Butler, the 
father-in-law of the rector, preached the sermon on the glory of the spiritual 
Jerusalem — the Church of God. He well described the manful way in which 
the demolition of the church was met by an immediate resolve to rebuild, and 
invoked peace on the sacred walls and prosperity in the homes of the people. 
A good rectory stands in the church lot. 

THE JOHNSON HOMESTEAD. 

The Johnson Homestead, No. 5206, with its double door and knocker, 
stands at the southwest corner of Main street and Washint!;ton lane. Dirck 




CHRIST CHURCH. 



GERMANTOWN. 165 

Janseii, the ancestor of the Johnson family, was one of the original lot owners 
of Gerniantown. The family came from the northern part of Holland, and 
the quaint house with its porch and pent roof is like the Dutch houses. John 
Johnson built the house for his son John. It was begun in 1765 and finished 
by 1768, which date is in the peak of the roof, when the younger John brought 
his bride here from the Quaker Meeting, immediately after their marriage 
He was the great-grandfather of the Misses Sarah P. and Elizabeth R. Jo hn son, 
who now dwell in the old mansion. The maiden name of the bride spoken of 
as the first mistress of the house was Rachel Livezy, and she was of the Wissa- 
hickon family of that name. The battle of Germantown was fought six weeks 
before the birth of the father of the Misses .Johnson — Samuel Johnson. He 
received the house after his father's death, and married Jeannette Roland, of 
the vicinity of Lewes, Delaware There were twelve children as the fruit of 
this marriage. The house is veiy interesting as showing the results of the 
battle of Germantown. The bullet holes still remain, and the splintered doors 
of parlor, sitting room and hall tell a sad tale. During the battle the family 
wisely retreated to the cellar. After it closed the English soldiers cleared the 
house of eatables. The ancient furniture is lovingly preserved. The small 
spinning wheel of the mother of the ladies adorns one of the rooms. That 
mother caine to her new home here in 1805, and lived to be 91, dying in Jan- 
uary, A. D. 1876. The corner cupboard contains blue and variegated China 
ware from England and Canton, mostly one hundred years old. A pretty 
little conservatory brightens the lower side of the dwelling, and there is a fine 
j^ard on the upper side on EUwood Johnson's place. There is a hall in the 
rear, and a double outer door in the parlor. The present building is of stone 
throughout. There is wainscoting over the parlor fireplace, and about the 
chimneys through the house. 

ELLWOOD JOHNSON'S HOUSE. 

The second house on the west side of Main street, above Washington lane, 
is the residence of Ellwood Johnson. It was formerly the abode of Rev. 
Peter Keyser, the Dunkard preacher. It is numbered 5214. The building is 
of stone throughout, rough-cast. It was erected by the father of Rev. Peter 
Keyser, who was also named Peter. It was built about A. D. 1765, and 
remodeled by its present owner in 1866, about a century afterward. The old 
window panes used to have the names of Peter Keyser's children cut in them. 
The house is pleasant and brightened with flowers in the little conservatory 
in the rear. The flowers in the yard at the side of the house also attract the 
toilers who pass by. Ellwood Johnson bought this dwelling of Mrs. CK-mentine 
Lynd, the mother of Judge Lynd, in 1857. The old hipped roof has given 
place to a modern Mansard one. In the rear a terrace diversifies the grounds. 
An old swamp cj^pre.ss, nourished by Honey Run, which flows under its roots, 
is perhaps one hundred feet high and five feet in diameter. Other cypresses 
stand near as companions. One has been partially blown over, but lives lean- 



166 GERMANTOWN. 

iiig at an angle. Honey Run is now for the most part a covered drain. An 
old-fa.shioned spring liouse, built perhaps in 1760 to 1770, is a picturesque 
feature of the rear of the yard. The quaint building is large; its roof slopes 
in one direction. -There is a circular window, lined with brick, over the door. 
The pretty spring is walled in. It is fuller in drought than at other times. 
The noted Friend, Israel Pemberton, of Philadelphia, when he had the yellow 
fever craved this water, but the physician's advice was against its use. How- 
ever, he sent a colored servant out to the spring for water and drank a quan- 
tity of it and recovered. The Revolutionary fence, riddled with bullets, is one 
of the greatest curiosities among the relics of the battle of Germantown. It is 
preserved with very great care. Such antiquarian interest is commendable 
in this utilitarian age. The original boards may have been an inch thick, 
but time and weather have worn them very thin. The cross boards are an- 
cient ; the posts have been renewed. The boards are of white cedar and have 
lost perhaps half of their original thickness. An American in the old country, 
when he saw a stone a thousand years old, rubbed against it ; so one feels like 
touching this fence. 

The ancient stone buildings in the rear of the two .Johnson places were parts 
of a tannery. There are two beam-houses. One of these outbuildings now 
serves as a cow-hou.se on Mr. Ell wood Johnson's place. An old oak beam 
over the chimney of a fire-place in one of these buildings has the name of 
P. Keyser, 1784, cut in it, and plainly to be read, though the whitewash brush 
has been at work. The beam-houses were where the skins had the fleshy sub- 
stance scraped off after they had been in lime. The .stone bark house on 
Ellwood Jolmson's place where bark was ground and stored is now a stable 
and carriage house. 

The stone wall between this property and that of the Misses Johnson, next 
south of it, served as a breastwork at the battle of Gcrmantowir. The British 
were below the wall, and the Amercans above it. 'J'he wall has been repaired 
and now awaits reconstruction. Two or three pear trees planted by Peter 
Keyser yet stand. They were placed by him at a jjoint where he remarked 
that three American soldiers were killed, and are living monuments. 

An old stone wheel leans against the bark-mill on the Misses Johnson's lot; ' 
which used to run its weary round by horse-power in grinding bark. Peter 
Keyser was a tanner as well as a Dunkard preacher, and Samuel Johnson was 
also a tanner. The tannery buildings at the Engle i)lace next the Town Hall 
show that the occupation of Simon, mentioned in Scripture, was common in 
ancient Germantown. 

The sons of Peter Keyser were Elhanan, Peter, Natiian and William. His 
daughter Clementine was Mrs. Lynd, the mother of Judge Lynd. Dr. Peter 
Keyser is a grandson of the preacher, and so becomes Peter the third. 

Ellwood Johnson's land runs back almost to Adams street in the rear. An 
old chestnut tree on the Misses Johnson's place still fights manfully with time, 
though sadly broken and marred in the contest. An old box bush in the yard 



GERMANTOWN. 167 

of Elhvood Johnson also iiidicates the age of the estate. An upright clock 
within the mansion was once the time-keeper of a Philadelphia Friend, who 
used kindlj' to feed the squirrel tribe. His name was Henry Pemberton. 

The house also contains a curiosity in the shape of a little wine made by 
Thomas Livezy, who lived on the banks of the Wissahickon. It is dated 1760. 
It was a portion of some that was sunk in the mill race on Mr. Livezy's place, 
at the foot of Allen's lane, during the Revolution, to keep it out of the hands 
of the British. 

Rev. Peter Keyser, the former owner of this mansion, used to preach in 
Philadelphia at Crown and Callowhill streets, and in Germantown, on alter- 
nate Sundays. His faithful old mare carried him back and forth in an old- 
fashioned chair, but he used to walk over the route also. 

Some idea of the condition of roads in Ancient Germantown may be formed 
from the fact that when Reuben Haines wished to visit the Morris-Littel 
house, nearly opposite his own, he often had his horse saddled to cross the 
street. Mr. Haines was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Fire Depart- 
ment. The gentlemen of tliat da}' took a personal interest in that work ; but 
in a city so large as our present town it is far better to have a paid force. 

Mrs. Moses Dillon states that when her great-grand -father, David Deshler, 
who lived in the city, and who was described by Ward, used to go out to Ger- 
mantown, to superintend the building of his summer residence, she thinks 
that she has heard that he was obliged to stay there all night, as the quag- 
mires made returning difficult. 

Horse cars and fiftj^ daily trains on steam railways show a change ; what 
will be the condition of things fifty years hence? 

Another interesting feature of the old town was the location of buildings. 
They were .stretched along Main street, and followed the fashion of German 
villages, where the people cluster together, and go out to workjin their outly- 
ing farms. The farms here extended in long narrow strips back of the houses 
Such was the shape of the original lots. 

Judge Samuel W. Pennypacker, in his address at the Bi-Centennial of the 
settlement of Germantown, speaks of the Dutch and German elements, which 
constituted the new town, and refers to the fact that the loyal race of England 
is from Germany, and that William Penn's mother was from Rotterdam ; so in 
this early village of the western world Englishman, Dutchman, and German 
were to meet and fuse into Americans, a type of wliat has been going on in 
the United States on a grander scale ever since. 

THE POOR HOUSE. 

Cross streets were rare in the early times. The oldjGerman would naturally 
object to the cutting of his little farm, and so people at:_that time when 



168 GERMANTOWK 

modern feverish haste was unknown quietly went around. The Turkish 
idea that haste was from the devil, and rest from Allah, would have suited 
them. Perhaps they have lived longer for their equanimity. Adam Hoger- 
moed may have been thought enterprising when he opened Rittenhouse street 
(Poorhouse lane) through his own property. The old Poor House is said to 
have been his residence. It is an object of interest, as it may have contained 
many old residents who have seen better days. Here insane Ned Runkle was 
chained to the floor. Still the poor fellow played pleasantly on the flute, and 
attracted the boys of the neighborhood. There was a little old woman, who 
used to patch up her room with fancy-colored paper. I saw an insane woman 
on Blackwell's Island, New York, who imagined herself the wife of each suc- 
cessive President of the United States, and her gaily adorned walls indicated 
her grandeur. It is well when such fancies can amuse the diseased brain, and 
it is a pleasanter sight than 

" Moody madness laughing wild amidst severest woe." 

The old Poor House property extended from an alley a little west of Main 
street back to Green street. It was a strip of land perhaps 250 feet wide. 

In 1832 a cholera building was put up at the corner of Green and Ritten- 
house streets. It was constructed of wood and was torn down. There was a 
grave yard on Green street. The bodies were removed several years ago to 
the Potter's field, at the corner of Green and Pulaski streets. 

Mattinger's grocery store, No. 36, was the residence of the steward of the 
Poor Pouse. The old alley was styled Tull's court. 

About seventeen years ago the old Poor House was abandoned, and the new 
one near Wayne street was occupied, and that is soon to be removed to the 
Unruh farm. The ground was divided and sold in lots. Osborne & Willihan 
bought the Poor House and made it into a tenement house. 

Let us take a look at it. The old building is numbered thirty. It is of 
stone, being plastered outside the stone. The walls are solid. The building 
has been divided into five apartment houses. The gable stands toward the 
street, and tlie house is exactly on the street, having no front yard ; though 
there is a yard above and below, and a fair amount of ground in the rear. The 
gable front on the street has been modernized, and the cornice of the roof has 
been adorned with brackets. Wooden steps project into the street. Green 
Venetian shutters are in the upper windows, while solid wooden ones are 
below, colored white. The glass windows of the cellar are partly below the 
pavement. A modern cucumber pump, painted green, in the yard, on the 
eastern side of the house, in its fine bravery of bright color, and its ornamen- 
tation of yellow paint to enliven the green, contrasts strongly with the old wall 
of the house. The house is of three stories on the east side, the lower story 
being a basement in part. There are but two stories on the west side, as the 
ground is higher there ; so it is like some of the dwellings in Edinburg. Three 
dormer windows enlighten the attic on each side. 



GERMANTOWN. 169 

Joseph Scheetz, was for some time the steward of the poor house. He is now 
the sexton of the Dunkard church. 

CONCORD SCHOOL HOUSE. 

The record book of this old school is kept at Mr. Ellwood Johnson's, as he is 
the treasurer. Gideon Keyser is the president, and Romaine Keyser is sec- 
retary. The title of the book is, " Proceedings of the order and management 
of the school and building, the Concord school house at the upper end of 
Germantown, 1775." Then follows : " Be it hereby remembered that whereas 
a number of the inhabitants of the upper end of Germantown taking into con- 
sideration the distance and particular inconvenience through the winter sea- 
sons of sending their children to the lower school (i. e., the Academy), and 
seeing the number of children continually increasing, and the rooms rented 
for the school in that neighborhood mostly be to small and inconvenient. 
When the building of a school-house in that part of the town was proposed by 
the wa3' of subscription : In consequence whereof a meeting was ajspointed 
in order to obtain the voice of the people in that part of the town for the pur- 
pose aforesaid. When agreeably to appointment a number of the inhabitants 
met on the twenty-foui'th day of March, 1775, in order to promote the build- 
ing and erecting a convenient school house and establishing an English 
school in that part of the town. When the plan of the house and spot of 
ground was unanimously agreed upon being that part of the burying-ground 
lot at the upper end of Germantown formerly intended for that jjurpose by 
one Paul Wolf the original grantor of the said burying ground lot and in 
order therefore that the said building might be carried on expeditiously. 
Jacob Engle, Peter Keyser, Peter Leibert and Jacob Knorr were unanimously 
chosen to be the managers of the said building, bj'' whom it was carried on, 
and nearly completed by the latter end of October the same year fit for school, 
which was first opened and kept by John Grimes, schoolmaster." 

A list of contributors follows. I add a few of the names of old German- 
towners interested in education. .John Bowman and John Knorr, executors 
of Catharine Rife, are credited with 50 pounds, paid from discretionary part 
of estate ; John Bowman, 10 ; John Johnson, Sr., 12 ; Jacob Engle, 11 ; Peter 
Keyser, 12; John .Johnson, 10; John Knorr, 10. A subscriber named Fred'k 
Smith is marked minister. The total was 245 pounds one shilling and two pence. 
A note after this reads "the Continental that came to nothing 2 pounds. 
Real amount 243 pounds 1 shilling 2 pence." 

April 13th, 1806, Martin Hocker takes charge of the school. There are 
accounts of expenses for fire-wood which read strangely in these coal-burning 
days. A black boy's tuition is noted. April 15th, 1783, meeting to choose 
trustees. Voters must have subscribed fifteen shillings at least. Number of 
trustees at least five, and not over seven, to be chosen on Whitsuntide IMonday. 
Jacob Engle, Peter Keyser, Peter Leibert, Jacob Knorr, John Johnson, Jr., and 



170 GERMANTOWN. 

Winard Nice were chosen trustees. The deaths of Daniel L. Keyser, WiUiatn 
Berhner, and Samuel Johnson are worthily noted at the close of the book. 
Samuel Nice, Dr. Robert S. Woodrop, David C. King and Jacob Keyser were 
the last trustees chosen. Dr. Woodrop has since died. The date in the gable 
of the school house, which stands toward the street, is 1775. The house is 
stone, rough-cast. It has been enlarged. It has a cupola and bell. There is 
a half-door on the lower side, the number is 5213. It is now a private school, 
kept by Miss Anne McMurtrie. A high stone wall guards the lower side of the 
property. The first story contains the school room and the rooms of Mrs., 
Dillon, the janitress; the upper story is the Charter Oak Library. The 
Upper Burying Ground joins the property on the north. 

THE UPPER GERMANTOWN BURYING GROUND. 

Dr. Peter D. Keyser, of Philadelphia, a descendant of the Germantown 
Keysers, has an article on this subject in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, 
No. 4 of Vol. 8. From it we cull the following information, simply adding 
that the inscription on the marble slab in the front of the wall reads 1 724, 
1776,1843: 

When Germantown was settled (1683—1695), the Mennonites and Quakers 
were the two religious bodies of the town. At first their meetings were held 
in private houses, and it is supposed that at times they worshiped together 
in the same house till the building of their meeting houses. It is not known 
that they had a special burying place, and the dead were probably buried in 
their own grounds. When the Friends' Meeting House was built in 1705, 
and the Mennonite Church in 1706, each building had its gravej'ard adjoining 
it for the " burial of members of each body." 

"After 1700, Dunkers, Lutherans, etc., began to settle in the town and 
vicinity, and as there was no place in the upper part of Germantown as an 
open ground for any one of different religious views who wished to be buried 
in a regular graveyard, Paul Wulff, in 1724, granted one half of an acre of 
ground, situated at the upper end of Germantown, on the Main street, above 
the road to Abington, or Keyser's lane, to the corporation for a burying ground." 

A stone wall was needed in front of this ground. The people subscribed for 
this " money, labor, stone, etc." All subscribers were to have the right of 
burial. The place was styled the " Upper Germantown Burying Ground." 

"The front wall, on the main road, was begun in May, 1724, by Dirck 
Johnson and John Frederick Ax." A list of those who aided the work is added, 
which should interest ancient Germantowners. We find the names of Paul 
Engel, Garret Rittenghausen, Hans Reyner, John Strepers, Johannes Jansen, 
Dennis Cunrads (Tunis Cunders), Peter Keyser, John Gorgas, Peter Shoemaker, 
Christopher Witt, Frantz Neff, and many others. The work cost £40 8s. 6d. 

No record of burials is found till 1756, when a record book was opened. On 
seven tombstones before this date are found the names Catherine Machinetin, 



GERMANTOWN. 171 

A. M. , geboren, 1679 ; gestorben, 1735 ; AVilliam Dewees ; Mary, daughter 

of Catherine and Godfrey Lehman ; William Palmer, Elizabeth Palmer, 
Christiana, wife of William Dewees. 

In 1753 the land was properly surveyed and bounded, Dirck Keyser own- 
ing the land above and below. A post and rail fence was placed on the back 
of the lot. John Frederick Ax remained in charge, having had the care of 
the ground since 1724. When he became too feeble by age for this service, 
the subscribers appointed Ludwig Engelhardt and Richard Robb to the charge. 
The spot was called Ax's Burying Ground from its superintendent. In 1758, 
George Schreiber and Engelhardt are in charge. 

In 17G0 it was determined to inclose the whole yard with a stone wall, and 
subscriptions were made. Another long list of names helps the antiquarj^ 
Amount raised, £29 13s. Od. The wall cost £33 4s. lOd. Strangers who were 
able could pay for graves ; if poverty applied there could be no free burial. In 
1776 a new front wall was built, as the old one needed repair. Jno. Knorr 
and Justus Fox were appointed collectors for it. George Schreiber and Peter 
Keyser were " overseers and managers of the Burying Ground, " etc. They 
oversaw the building of the wall. So it has stood from 1777, when it was 
finished. 

When Dr. Keyser wrote, Samuel Nice and Joseph Channon, "descendants 
from the old line," were in charge. 

" In the latter part of the eighteenth century a stone school-house was built 
in a triangular lot adjoining this ground on the southwest line, M^iich was 
called the Concord School-house. From the proximity of this house to the 
ground it came to be called the Concord Burial Ground, which name it popu- 
larly bore for many years." 

In 1756 George Schreiber begins his record of burials with a child of Jacob 
Traut, June 28th. " During that year ten bodies were buried therein, all 
children but one, the wife of George Palmer." Many a Rachel then wept for 
her children. 

■ Wives and children were entered as such a person's wife or child. " For 
instance, June 20, 1751, The Catholic man's son." 

" Up to about 1800 the erection of tombs was not frequent." In 1757 the 
record whicli Dr. Keyser gives, read, " The Catholic Man from Chestnut Hill." 
This year John Freddrick Ax, "the first superintendent," is recorded. The long 
list shows German names, and in two cases the record is in German. Here is 
one in 1761, " 1st der alte Knor begraben." The other is in 1772, " 1st der alte 
Kraut begraben." Indeed George Schreiber wrote the record in German, but 
the list only retains these two specimens of German. Schreiber died two years 
after he gave up his post, and " his co-overseer for so many years, Ludwig 
Engelhard died the same year." Both were buried in this ground. 

In 1781 the record becomes English and a change comes over the spelling of 
the German names. The record in the Magazine stops in 1799. 



172 GERMANTOWN. 

UPSAL. 

The pleasant mansion of Mrs. Norton Johnson, on the west side of Main 
street, bears this Swedish name, given by Mrs. Johnson, grandmother of Dr. 
William N. Johnson. It is Numbered 5234. The old trees and shrubbery give 
it a spacious and comfortable appearance. There are several monarchs of the 
forest, which have withstood manj^ a winter storm. The square and solid 
stones of the mansion give it an air of stability. 

The house was erected by Norton Johnson's father, in 1798. Here he brought 
his newly -wedded wife, Sarah Wheeler. Here both husband and wife died, and 
now tlieir nine children are also dead. One son died in the city. The others 
died here, so that the old house is full of the history of the joys and the sorrows 
of family life. 

The grandfather of Norton Johnson was named Joseph. His wife was an 
English lady, Elizabeth Norton. They were married in 1773. 

Dirck and his wife Katrina .Jansen were one of the thirteen families who 
settled Germantown. They were the ancestors of this family, as well as of the 
other Johnsons already noted. 

In' the house we meet again the prettj' old wainscoting, which speaks so well 
for the skill of the ancient carpenters. The mansion is well constructed^ 
having been built by day's labor, and not by contract. It was three years in 
building, and people from the country around came during that time to see 
the wonderful house-building. 

The division walls are of stone, and run all the way up, so that the weak 
lath and plaster are avoided. 

The ceilings are high. The wood carvings of the mantels are of the Queen 
Anne style. The original mouldings at the top of the ceilings are still excel- 
lent, though colored. The original fire-places have been preserved. 

The old conservatory in the rear of the back'parlor is of the same age as the 
house. The extensive stone servants' buildings, with sloping roof, stand in the 
rear, and remind one of a Southern residence. 

The gabled front and back of the house present an antique and dignified 
look. 

Ample and beautiful grounds surround the ancient mansion. An orchard 
gives a country touch to 'the scene, while a greenhouse among the shrubbery 
and an old stone barn complete the picture. A stone wall bounds the lower 
part of the estate. 

In front the pines and the oaks stand as sentinels before the old door, under 
its arched window. The porch and dormer windows, and the stone strip 
reaching along the front of the house give it an individuality. The street in 
front is adorned with trees. 

The grounds are opposite the Chew House. 

The following is from the Philadelphia Neivs : 

Upon "Upsala," the Johnston country place, in ' Germantown, opposite the 
Chew house, grows a large silver fir tree, which is now unfortunately, fast 



GERMANTOWN. 173 

going to decay. For many years it has been one of tlie sights of the neighbor- 
hood on account of its remarkable beauty. There was a tradition that this 
tree was planted by Washington, but this story has been proved to be without 
foundation, as it was planted in 1800 by the grandfather of the present owner 
of the property. It grew very rapidly, and twenty-five years ago it was ninety- 
six feet high. At the present time it is over a hundred feet. It is of the same 
species as the trees which compose the famous Black Forest in Germany, the 
name of which is derived from the dark color of the foliage. Recently, 
to commemorate the marriage of Dr. William N. Johnson, there was planted 
near tliis old fir tree an Apolinian silver fir. It is one of the rarest evergreens 
in cultivation. There are a number of other choice trees on the Johnson 
grounds, many of which were planted by Doctor Johnson, the original owner 
of the place, who was a well-known botanist and one of the early members of 
the Academ}' of Natural Sciences. 

WILLIAM N. JOHNSON, M. D. (Contributed). 

William N. Johnson, M. D. was born in the Johnson homestead, Upsal, 
on the 10th of May, 1807. The rudiments of his education were obtained 
at home from his accomplished mother, and, when about 9 years of 
age. he attended the Germantown Academy. Here he remained until 1823, 
when he entered Dickinson College. After attaining honors there in 1826, he 
matriculated at the University of Peniisylvania, Medical Department, gradu- 
ating in 1829. In 1830 he went to Paris, at that time the greatest seat of 
medical learning in the world, where he applied himself assiduously to the 
continuance of his medical education. It was while herein the pursuit of his 
studies and investigations, that he contracted a most serious and almost fatal 
illness — septicaemia resulting from a dissection wound. He was attended most 
.faithfully by his life-long friend. Dr. William Ashmead, lately deceased, to 
whose great skill and accurate judgment he owed his life. After completing 
his studies he extended his travels through Europe, and his admirable letters 
were cojaied by his mother .in three volumes and preserved among his other 
papers. Upon his return after an absence of three years, he began his practice 
of medicine, which he successfully continued until within a few years of his 
death, when his poor health prohibited very active work. Courteous and 
courtl}' in manner, and grave and dignified in his demeanor, he endeared 
himself to his large circle of friends and patients. It may not be amiss to call 
attention to the fact, that .he enjoyed his chief success in the practice of obstet- 
rics. In 1836 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Germantown 
Bank, where he remained an active member until his death, which occurred 
on June 22, 1870. 

A two-story concrete house being torn down at Main and Johnson streets to 
make way for extensive improvements was erected prior to 1762, and the land 
is part of a tract conveyed through Francis Daniel Pastorius, to a Mr. Sprogel, 
in 1683. 



174 GERMANTOWN. 

Dr. James Mease's " Picture of Philadelphia," published by B. & T. Kite, No. 
20 North Third street, A. D. ISll, has the following notice as to the German- 
town drive : 

NORTH ROUTE. 

" The most direct way to Germantown, is to pass up Third street, at the 
extremity of which you meet the turnpike road, and at the distance of six 
miles from the city reach that healthful village. There are to be had the well- 
known woolen hosiery, which bear the name of the town, manufactured in the 
families of the German settlers. Germantown is a summer retreat for a num- 
ber of citizens, and, except its airj^ and elevated situation, being on the first 
ridge after you leave Philadelphia, it has little to interest or detain strangers. 
From this town you may pass hj several roads in a westwardly direction into 
what is called the Township line road, and thus vary the ride back to the city^ 
which exhibits a fine view from the heights. Previously to leaving the Town- 
ship line road and resuming the turnpike, into which it conducts you about 
two miles from Philadelphia, you may be gratified by visiting Upsal botanic 
garden, established and conducted by Bernard McMahon. This garden is near 
the junction of the Township line and Turnpike roads. When you have 
reached the city your ride will have been thirteen miles. If, when at German- 
town, you wish to extend your excursion you may pass up the turnpike, through 
the village of Cresham, ascending as you proceed to Chestnut Hill , thence to 
the Perkiomen creek. A short distance from the bridge which crosses that 
stream, are the celebrated lead mines, well worth visiting. The mineralogist 
will be amply repaid by his visit to this place." 

[Note as to Chestnut Hill : " From this place the view is extensive and 
picturesque."] 

Mease speaks of Robeson's flour mills, and says of the Wissahickon : " The 
scenery up this creek is verj' 'romantic ; the creek passes in a serpentine course 
among majestic hills, from the sides of which rocks in rude disorder impend 
over the stream." 

He also mentions the oil mill at Falls Tavern, on the east side of the Schuyl- 
kill, as of interest, as well as the Spring Mill and the vineyard of the 
Pennsylvania Vine Company near it. 

One of the most interesting points in Germantown is the southern corner of 
East Walnut Lane and Main street. Here lived the famous Dr. Christopher 
Witt. In the Leary edition of Watson's Annals there is a short account of him. 
(Vol. 1. p. 267, and Vol. 11, p. 22.) The references are to the 3 Vols, with 
Willis P. Hazard's additions. He was born in England in 1675, and came to 
America in 1704; and died in Germantown, 1765, aged 90 years. He was 
religious, but esteemed a diviner, as he cast nativities. But the Germans of 
that day, and many of the English did the same. 



GERMANTOWN. 175 

DR. WITT. 

In Dr. J. J. Levick's addresses on the Early Physicians of Philadelphia, p. 
16, Dr. Witt is named. Dr. Levick kindly referred me to Dr. Joseph H. 
Toner's Annals of Medical Science for further information. The pamphlet is 
in a volume of pamphlets in the Philadelphia Library, entitled " Orations, 
Addresses, etc." It speaks of him as being eccentric, and states his age to have 
been 99 years. The number of the book is 20,197. In Charles S. Keyser's 
book on Fairmount Park, p. 160, Bartram is referred to as saying as Mr. .Jones 
has noted, that when Dr. Witt was in his garden he could not distinguish a 
leaf from a flower. He was then 86, and as the time named was 1761, and he 
died in 1769, the age of 99 above mentioned must be an error. A note in Mr. 
Keyser's book says that he was buried at the feet of Kelpius, at his own re- 
quest, but this can not be, as Kelpius is said to have been buried on the 
Prowattain place, near his abode in Roxborough. Watson says that Dr. Witt 
translated Kelpius's German hymns into English poetry, line for line. (Vol. 
I, p. 22.) He also states that he left his property to strangers who had been 
kind to him on his arrival in giving him a hat in place of one that he had 
lost on shipboard. (Vol. 2, p. 36.) He calls the family Warmer. 

Near the chancel of St. Michael's church in High street is the grave of Dr. 
Witt. I am indebted to Rev. Dr. Murphy, the rector, for information about 
this old burial place. The Warner familj^, as the name was spelled afterward, 
are buried here. The low rough stone which marks Dr. Witt's resting place 
shows no inscription now. One stone reads thus : 

In Memory of 

Doctr 

Christopher Warner 

Who departed this life 

February 17th 1783 

Aged 39 years & 

4 months. 

Here is another : 

Memory 

Doctor 

Jonathan Warner 

Who departed this life 

December 24th 1793. 

Aged 22 years & 1 month. 

This is thought to be a son of the former. The stone supposed to mark Dr. 
Witt's grave is between Dr. Christopher AVarner's grave and the rectory. The 
Warner name was also spelled Wermer and Werner. Two friends of Dr. 
Witt are thought to lie by his side; they are supposed also to have been dis- 
ciples of Kelpius. They are now in the land where their mystic queries are 
answered. These men give a poetic touch to the history of the quiet old town 
where they dwelt. Several members of the Warner family lie in the rear of 



176 GERMANTOWN. 

St. Michael's chancel. The reputation of magicians attached to them in the 
common mind. Two of the "Warners we have seen bore the title of Doctor. 
Tacitus declared that everything unknown was esteemed magnificent, and 
wliile in some things these men may have been superstitious, as men are at 
all times, in other matters they may have been ahead of their times in knowl- 
edge. The Bible of Dr. Witt is in the possession of Louis D. Vail. It once 
contained a loose slip of old yellow paper with a record of the burial of the 
Warner family at St. Michael's church. Miss Clare owned the Bible for a long 
time. It was given to her by Mr. Lybrand, who bought it at the sale of the 
effects of the Warner family. She was a member of the Society of Friends. 
She and her sister lived next door to the Friends' Meeting-House on School 
Lane. 

The Hon. Horatio Gates Jones takes a deep interest in the historj^ of Ger- 
raantown, which is near his home, and has contributed the following most 
valuable paper on 

DR. CHRISTOPHER WITT. 

RoxBOROUGH, May 8, 1886. 

Dear Sir : — When I promised to give j'ou some memoranda about Dr. 
Witt, I had no idea it would require so much research. This fact must 
explain my delay in the preparation of this paper. There is no doubt that 
Dr. Witt often visited Roxborough, especiallj' to see his friend, John Kelpius, 
the Hermit of the Ridge, whose portrait, it is said, he painted, and which is 
now in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, prefixed to the small volume 
containing the Latin Journal and several letters of Kelpius.* It is also 
probable that he visited " the last of the Hermits " — John Seligius, alias 
John Sehlee, who lived on the farm of William Levering, a lineal ancestor of 
m3'self His association with Roxborough leads me to feel that what I now 
am writing is part of the history of my native place. 

This distinguished man was a native of Wiltshire, England, and came to 
America in the early part of the Eighteenth Centurj', and having imbibed the 
ideas of the Mystics became associated with John Kelpius, the famous 
" Hermit of the Ridge," and his associates. Of his early life and pursuits, 
nothing is known. Asa believer in the Rosicrucian philosophj'- of his day, in 
which he indulged to a great extent, he became noted in Germantown as a 
Magus or Diviner, and taught Christopher Lehman and Fraley the mysteries 
of horoscopes, which made all of them noted in their day, giving to Dr. Witt 
the name of a " conjuror," because he " cast nativities," as Watson, the great 
annalist, tells us in his works. Be that as it may, Dr. -Witt was a skillful 
physician, a man of science, a lover of Nature, while he lived in an age when 
learning was confined to the few, and the learned were regarded with great 

* Mr. C. J. Wister is in possession of Kelpius's Journal, presenled to his great-grandfather by Seligius. 
It is written in four languages — Latin, German, French and English. 



GERMANTOWN. 177 

awe. Dr. Witt was associated with many of the learned and scientific men 
both in America and England. 

There is no doubt that he was a naturalist of no mean powers, as he cor- 
responded with the well-known Peter Collinson, and was' also an intimate 
friend of our early botanist, the celebrated John Bartram. Like many of the 
great men of the present day; Dr. Witt was exceedingly credulous, and dealt 
much in the marvelous, and, as we shall see, he anticipated some of the 
wonderful beliefs of the so-called " spiritualists " of the Nineteenth Century. 

Mr. Watson says that Dr. Witt owned and dwelt in the three-story stone 
house in Germantown, now situated at the northeast corner of East Walnut 
lane and Main street. There is no doubt that he lived there and had in the 
rear of his house a garden which he cultivated and devoted to trees and plants 
of every variety and to which he made his friends welcome at all times. 

As early as June 11, 1743, John Bartram, when writing to Peter Collinson, 
and after describing his visit to Dr. Witt's garden, which was filled with 
flowers and plants, says, " We went into his study, which was furnished with 
books containing different kinds of learning, as Philosophy, Natural Magic, 
Divinity, nay, even Mystic Divinity, all of which were the subjects of our 
discourse within doors, which alternately gave way to botany every time we 
walked in the garden. I could have wished thee the enjoyment of so much 
diversion, as to have heard onr discourse, provided thee had been swathed 
from hips to armpits. But it happened that a little of our spiritual discourse 
was interrupted by a material object within doors; for tlie Doctor had lately 
purchased of a great traveller in Spain or Italy, a sample of what was imposed 
upon him for Snahe Stones, which took me up a little time, besides laughing 
at him, to convince the Doctor that they were nothing but calcined horse bones. 
Indeed, to give the Doctor his due, he is pleasant, facetious and pliant." 

Between Mr. Bartram and Dr. Witt there was no doubt a very warm friend- 
ship, as both were devoted to botany at a time when few persons in America 
understood the importance and value of plants, trees and flowers. On the 
10th of December, 1745, Mr. Bartram, who had again been to Germantown to 
visit Dr. Witt, writes to Peter Collinson, and in his letter says, " Now though 
oracles be ceased, and thee hath not the spirit of divination, yet according to 
our friend Doctor Witt, we friends that love one another sincerely may, by an 
extraordinary spirit of sympathy, not only know' each other's desires, but may 
have a spiritual conversation at great distances one from another." 

If Dr. Witt, one hundred and forty-one j^ears since, proclaimed such peculiar 
views, there is no wonder that he was regarded even bj'' John Bartram as a 
conjuror or wizard ! But at this age of the world, when telegraphs, cables and 
telephones are drawing the whole world together and the remotest portions of 
the habitable globe seem close by us, we are more charitable and are apt to 
ascribe such a belief to the peculiar mental organization of Dr. Witt, and we are 
prone to believe that he may have had in his mind some of the grand discoveries 
of the present daj'. 



178 GERMANTOWN. 

About the j-ear 1758, when he had reached the age of 83 years, Dr. "Witt, 
was so unfortunate as to lose his eyesight, and in 1761 Bartram, who was 
warmly attached to his learned friend, visited Germantown and ministered to 
him as best he could, cheering him by his reports of news from Collinson and 
Fothergill and telling him of new plants which he may have lately discovered. 
About the same time Dr Witt made a visit to Bartram and no doubt the old 
philosopher's heart was full of quiet love and sympathy as he experienced the 
friendly act of a heart like that of John Bartram. His steps were slow and he 
needed the aid of a cane and perhaps the arm of his friend as they walked 
through the beautiful grounds. In a letter written by Bartram July 9, 1761, 
to Collinson, he says: " Poor old man ! He was lately in my garden, but 
could not distinguish a leaf from a flower." He was then 86 years of age, and 
had outlived all or nearly all of his contemporaries who were here when he 
arrived. Among the first to die was the learned mystic, John Kelpius, the 
famous " Hermit of the Ridge, " of whom it is said Dr. Witt was a devout fol- 
lower and whose portrait he painted, as may be seen in a manuscript volume 
now in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and a lithograph I had made 
for my book entitled " The Levering Family" in 1858. Of Kelpius I have not 
time now to write, but may at some future time. Of him even the gentle 
Whittier, in his poem entitled " The Pennsylvania Pilgrim," speaks as 

" Painful Kelpius from liis hermit's den, 
By Wissahickon, maddest of ^jood men." 

Then followed Matthias and last Johannes Seligius, or John Sehlee, better 
known as John Selig, who died on the farm of mj^ great-great-grandfather, 
AVilliam Levering, of Roxborough, April 26, 1745. This hermit was, like his 
friend Dr. Witt a, " diviner," and Mr. Watson says there was a tradition about 
him to this effect that he directed that when he died his " divining rod " 
should be cast into water. This was done and the rod exploded with a 
loud noise! Credat Judseus Appella. 

Among his effects, he liad 25 shirts, 54 glass bottles, 5 Bibles, 10 of Jacob 
Boehman's books and 150 Latin, Dutch and Greek books, all of which, I regret 
to say, have disappeared. 

As Dr. Witt felt the feebleness of age, like a sensible man, who had no 
relatives to inherit his property, he made his will, while in the possession of 
all his faculties, at the age of 86 years. It bears date, November 7, 1761, and 
extracts therefrom should be of interest to the citizens of Germantown, where 
he was once such a prominent character. He describes himself as a " Practi- 
tioner of Physick." He gives to the Pennsylvania Hospital £60. He man- 
umits from " slavery and servitude " his mulatto servant " commonly known 
as Robert Claj^mer, and also gives to him a certain tract of land in German- 
town on the north side of Keyser's lane, which I bought of Adam Holt." 
" Also to said mulatto Robert, all my tools, instruments and utensils belonging 
to or appertaining to the making of watches and also my great clock which 
strikes every quarter. Also all household goods belonging to me which shall 



GERMANTOWN. 179 

be found at the time of my decease, in my old house where I formerly lived 
next door above Andrew Keyser's (alias Pistorias)." The rest of my estate 
real and personal he gives to " my well beloved friend Christian Warner of 
Germantown with whom I now live." He appoints as his executors his 
" loving friends Richard Johnson and Christian Warner." 

From the inventory of his personal jiroperty filed in the office of the Register 
of Wills at Philadelphia, I give a few items, which show very plainly that the 
learned Doctor in addition to his profession as a physician, followed other oc- 
cupations, as was often done in early times, and that he possessed a taste for 
music and for the making of clocks. In this particular however he did not 
equal his old neighbor and acquaintance, Christopher Sauer, who, it is said 
by Mr. Townsend Ward in one of his " Walks to Germantown," followed from 
fifteen to twenty occupations." * 

In the list of Dr. Witt's goods I find a Telescope, an Organ, f Virginals, Mathe- 
w,atical Instruments, Library and Prospect Glasses, Drugs, Medicines and Utensils 
belonging to the Apothecary and Doctor's way, Two Clocks, a Clock and Clockmakei-'s 
tools. The value of his personalty was £314 5s. 6d., which at that time was no 
small sum. 

Dr. Witt died in .January, 1765, at the advanced age of ninety j^ears and 
was buried on his own ground in Germantown, according to the statement of 
Mr. Watson, and tradition points out the house and grounds at the northeast 
corner of Main street and East Walnut lane as the place where he lived and 
died. A recent visit to this spot naturally recalled the famous man. It was 
easy to imagine him as walking in his once beautiful garden, leaning on the 
arm of his " loving friend," Chri?tian Warner, or attended by his faithful ser- 
vitor, Robert Claymer, the mulatto, whom he remembered so generously in his 
will, and who no doubt was constantly with him during his seven years of 
blindness. As I looked at the old trees still standing there, some of which 
were most likely planted by the Doctor I tried to see if any of his garden walks 
were visible, but alas they had disappeared. No longer are heard the solemn 
notes of his organ, nor the weird sounds of the Virginals, but all was silent as 
the grave and only memory could attach to the place any special interest. 
Pity indeed that there are no traces of his organ, or virginals, or the telescope, 
or the " great clock that strikes the quarters." Master and loving friends and 
devoted servant have gone to their heavenly rest, and there no doubt the great 
and learned man is surrounded by his loved ones, by the devout Kelpius and 
Seligius and Matthias and Pastorius and Bartram, where all that was so dim 
and obscure here has been made clear. Peace be to his memory. 

Watson's reference to the Blair House is in Vol. 2, p. 32, but I think the 
chronicler was mistaken, unless there was a previous building on the site, 

* Pennsylvajiia Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, p. 369, Ward says that Sauer w as bred a tailor in Germany, 
and acquired proficiency in thirty otiier pursuits. 

f A Virginal was a keyed instrument of one string, jack and quill to each note lil<e a spinet, but in shape 
resembling the piano forte. 



180 GERMANTOWN. 

though Mr. Jones's remarks on the garden naay not be wide of the mark 
if his garden was near the Warner houses. In Watson's Appendix to Vol. 2, 
p. 554, after the battle of Germantown, Lieutenant Whitman, of Reading, who 
was wounded, is spoken of as a patient of Dr. Witt. 

POMONA GROVE. 

I am indebted to Jas. Duval Rodjney, Esq., for the following sketch: 
Next to the Ax burying ground (formerly the Upper Burying Ground) and 
the Concord school house is Pomona Grove, owned now by Amos R. Little, 
and rented by the Misses Davis. This place is best known as Duval's place 
and as such is referred to, in Watson's Annals. It was owned at the time of 
the Battle of Germantown by Christopher Huber and formed part of the battle- 
field. Many an unsung hero of either side was quietly buried within its limits. 
The old springhouse at the fish pond now replaced by a modern grotto (the 
spring remains the best water of the neighborhood) was the rallying point of 
some of the Virginia troops. Watson mentions that in 1832 Captain George 
Blackmore, of the Virginia Line, made his acquaintance and desired to go 
over the battle field where he had fought side by side with his brother who 
was killed and left at that spring-house. Mr. Watson says : " He wanted to 
find the place again and shed a tear. He had some difficulty to find the 
places and positions in his memory, so changed since by elegant improvements. 
It was a feeling concern to travel once more with his eyes and explanations 
over the tented field to book the dead." I gave him a leaden bullet picked 
out of Chew's door and introduced him to Mr. Jacob Keyser, who had helped 
to bury his brother and four other soldiers in one hole near the spring-house ; 
they were buried in their uniforms. The house was occupied at one time by 
army tailors making up clothing. The shoemakers and smiths would go in 
squads to the shops of the town and use the tools found there for their work, 
in which the owners would readily join, not always from generous motives, 
but for the sake of keeping an eye on their tools and materials. From the 
Hubers the place passed into the hands of William Shoemaker, hatter, a son 
of the Councillor and a brother of the Mayor (Samuel), who was so conspicu- 
ous a figure in Revolutionary history. Mr. Watson speaks of Samuel as 
the owner of the place, but the legal title was certainly in William, for he and 
his wife Martha (she was a Brown, of Moreland) conveyed to Col. Forrest. 
Possibly William held it for Samuel's beneficial interest, as Samuel's relations 
about that time with the State prevented his holding property. Col. Forrest 
purchased it in 1788 of William, aforesaid. Colonel F. was a well-known 
citizen and altogether a remarkable man. There is no particular interest 
attached to this country jjlace. It has been owned for more than a "century 
by retired merchants, gentlemen of leisure, who, being without political 
aspirations or scientific tendencies, have left no mark on the social land- 
scape, with the single exception of Col. Forrest, who purchased it after he 




THE RODNEY HOUSE, AT ONE TIME OCCUPIED BY JOHN KEYSER. 



GERMANTOWN. 181 

resigned from the Army of the United States. He was always a prominent 
man and must have possessed a superior mind, for although all we know of 
him (he had no biographer) we get from anecdotes, yet his character, 
veiled as it often was in eccentricity of dress and apparent frivolity, exhibits a 
basis of shrewd wisdom and clever methods of expression. The nearest point 
he reached to memorial notice was to have his autograph affixed to what is 
claimed, on the best authority, to be a bogus portrait in the Pennsylvania 
Archives. It may not be out of place in this article to relate a few anecdotes, 
which, taken together, give a good idea of the man, and may of themselves 
interest many who read them in this shape for the first time, as illustrating 
that era. 

The first mention made of Forrest as a soldier is as raising in 1775-6 a 
company dressed as Indians, with painted faces, leggings and plumes. This 
eccentric episode must have lasted onty a short time, for we learn that on the 
fourteenth of August, 1776, Captain Thos. Forrest was made Captain of the 
Second Company, of Captain Thomas Proctor's Company of Pennsylvania 
ArtillerJ^ On the fourth of the next December he was detailed bj^ Major 
Proctor to start from Philadelphia and go to Trenton to place himself and 
company at George Washington's disposal. On the 26th we find him in close 
companionship with "Washington, for we have the following anecdote : The 
column, headed by Washington, reached the enemy's outposts exactly at eight 
o'clock, and within three minutes he heard the firing from Sullivan's divi- 
sion. "Which way is the Hessian picket?" asked Washington of a man 
chopping wood at his door. The surly reply came back : " I don't know." 
" You may tell, cried out Captain Forrest, of the artillery, for this is General 
Washington." The aspect of the man at once changed, and raising his hands 
toward Heaven, he exclaimed : " God bless and prosper your Excellency, the 
picket is in that house there, the sentinel under that tree there." 

The good service performed by Captain Forrest's Company is described in a 
letter written by one of his Lieutenants, Patrick Duffey, to the Mayor, under 
date of December 28, he says: "I have the pleasure to inform you that yes- 
terday we arrived in Trenton, after a fatiguing engagement, in which the ar- 
tillery gets applause. I had the honor of being detached up the Main street 
in front of the savages, without any other piece, and sustained the fire of sev- 
eral guns from the houses on each side of the street, without the least loss. 
Captain Forrest reports on the same date that " the artillery captured a com- 
plete band of music and that they expected to go on another expedition across 
the river." (What a boon he would be in these days, this excellent extin- 
guisher of German bands.) Forrest reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel 
and resigned as such May 9, 1783. 

After he purchased this place from William Shoemaker, he added to the 
buildings and started the cultivation of trees and fruit. He astonished the 
world by his indifference to social claims. His carelessness in dress and man- 
ners appeared to have no limit. He sometimes took his produce to market 



182 GERMANTOWN. 

himself, though under no necessity to do so. Sometimes he drove a four-in- 
hand team of bulls. Perhaps this was on one occasion only, when Chestnut 
street was filled with his fellow members of Congress for some reason, and he 
selected that day with care. Once he had advertised for a gardener, and whilst 
walking about his grounds in the simplest attire, even to being barefoot, he 
saw a stranger approach, who asked: "Where is Colonel Forrest?" "What 
do you want with him ? " he replied, " I wish to be engaged as gardener, he 
needs one I hear. I have excellent credentials from some of the highest gen- 
tlemen in England, where I have lived in the best places." " What is that 
under your arm ? " " An umbrella." " How do you use it ? " It was raised. 
" What is it for ? " " To keep off the sun and rain." The Colonel moved the 
applicant gently out of the gate, saying, " You have seen Col. Forrest ; he does 
not need a gardener who is afraid of sun and rain." (It may be remembered 
that up to the end of the Eighteenth C!entury umbrellas were looked upon as 
dudish and their use quite uncommon.) 

Colonel Forrest attacked in his peculiar manner a prevailing tendency to be- 
lief in divination and witchcraft, and the following extract from Watson's 
Annuals, Vol. 1, p. 268, states inter alia : " Colonel Thomas Forrest had been, 
in his early days, a youth of much frolic and fun, always well disposed to give 
time and application to forward a joke. He found much to amuse himself 
with, in the credulity of the German families. When he was about twenty- 
one years of age, a tailor, who was measuring him for a suit of clothes, hap- 
pened to say, " Ah, Thomas, if we could only find some of the money of the 
sea robbers we could drive our coach for life." The sinceritj^ and simplicity 
with which he uttered this caught the attention of young Forrest, and when 
he went home he began to devise some scheme to derive amusement from it. 
There was then a prevailing belief that the pirates had hidden manj^ sums of 
money about the banks of the Delaware. Forrest got an old parchment on 
which he wrote the dying testimony of one John Hendricks, executed at Ty- 
burn for piracy, in which he stated he Iiad deposited a chest and pot of money 
at Cooper's Point, in the Jersies. This parchment he smoked and gave to it 
the appearance of antiquity ; and calling on liis German tailor, he told him 
he had found it among his father's papers, who had gotten it in England 
from the prisoner whom he had visited in prison. This he showed to the 
tailor as a precious paper which he could not let go fi'om his hand. This had 
the desired effect. Soon after the tailor called on Forrest with one Ambriisterj 
a printer, whom he introduced as capable of " printing any spirit out of IkII," 
by his knowledge of the black art. He asked to show him the parchment; 
he was delighted with it and confidently said he could conjure Hendricks to 
give up the money. A time was appointed to meet in an upper room of a 
public house, in Philadelphia, by night, and the innkeeper was let into the 
secret by Forrest. By the night appointed they had had prepared, by a closet, a 
communication with a room above their sitting room, so as to lower down, by 
a pulley, the invoked ghost, who was represented by a young man entirely 



GERMANTOWN. 183 

sewed uj) in a close white dress, on which were painted black-eyed sockets, 
mouth and bare ribs, with dashes of black between them, the outside and 
inside of the legs and thighs blackened so as to make white bones con- 
spicuous there. About twelve persons in all were there around a table. 
Ambmster shtifHed and read out cards, on which were inscribed the names 
of the New Testament Saints, telling them he should bring Hendricks 
to encompass the table, visible or invisible he could not tell. At the word.s, 
"John Hendricks du verfluder cum heraus" the pulley was heard to reel, the 
closet door to fly open and John Hendricks with ghastly appearance stood 
forth. The whole party were dismayed and fled', save Forrest, the brave. 
After this Ambruster, on whom they all depended, declared that he had by 
spells got permission to take up the money. A time was fixed when they were 
to go to the Jersey shore and there dig by night for the treasure. The parch- 
ment said it lay between two great stones. Forrest prepared two black men 
entirely naked, except white petticoat breeches, and these were to jump each 
on a stone when thej^ came in digging near the pot, which had been y)reviously 
put there. These frightened off the company for a little while. When they 
next assayed they were assailed by cats tied two and two, to whose tails were 
tied spiral papers of gunpowder, which illuminated and whizzed, while the 
cats wauled. The pot was at last got up and brought in great triumph to 
Philadelphia wharf; but oh, sad disaster! while helping it out of the boat 
Forrest, who managed it and was handing it up to the tailor, trod upon the 
gunwale and filled the boat, and holding on to the pot, dragged the tailor into 
the river and it was lost ! For years afterwards they reproached Forrest with 
its loss and declared he had got the treasure himself and was enriched there- 
by. He favored the conceit until at last they actually sued him in a writ of 
treasure trove, but their lawyer was persuaded to give up the case. 

Some years afterward Forrest wrote a play in two acts called " Disappoint- 
ment ; or the Force of Credulity," which was published in New York over the 
nom de plume of " Antony Barker, Esq." It was quite clever but gave offense 
for various causes and was not represented on the stage. For many years he 
kept up his reputation for hexing (conjuring). He always kept a hazel rod 
scraped and smoked with which to divine where money was hid. Once he 
lent it to a man, who for its use gave a cartload of potatoes to the poor house. 
A decent storekeeper got him to hex his wife, who fancied she had been be- 
witched and had swallowed a piece of linsey-woolsey. He cured her by strong 
emetics and showing her a wet piece of linsey-woolsey. He touched a thief 
with cow-itch and by contemporaneous remarks induced, as the itching began, 
a full confession. These circumstances got about and made him ci[uite famous. 
It will be seen that Forrest carried on a well-regulated crusade against a pre- 
vailing superstition. In strong contrast to practical jokes, we have the follow- 
ing exhibitions of sentiment ; the first is this : When the Army was encamped 
at Valley Forge it was joined by a New Jersej' regiment, mostly farmers, who 
were, as Forrest discovered, in deadly fear of smallpox. Forrest rose one 



184 GERMANTOWN. 

morning early and wrote with a piece of chalk upon the doors of all the huts 
which faced the Jerseymen, "Smallpox here!" The consequence was that 
each Jerseyman as he came out of his hut in the morning read the inscription, 
and without communicating with his fellows at once put on his hat and de- 
serted. By roll-call the whole regiment was gone. Washington discovered 
that Forrest was the joker, and at parade gave him a very severe public 
reprimand from which Forrest never recovered, and hated Washington until 
his death ; but it is said that after Washington died Forrest often showed 
great emotion at the sight of the likeness of his quondam friend, and his regret 
over the occurrence greatly conti'ibuted to the cause of his retirement first 
from military, then from social life. 

The second occurred at a reception given to the Marquis Lafayette during 
his last visit to this country. Col. Forrest, one of the Revolutionary officers, 
upon being presented, burst into tears, when Judge Peters, who was standing 
by the Marquis, dryly observed : " Why, Tom, I thought you were a forest tree, 
but you turn out to be a weeping willow." In 1811, Col. Forrest sold his place 
to Mr. Duval and moved to a property near Branchtown, which he owned. 
His life was saddened by the death of his only son, and his retirement was 
caused by that and the marriage of his only daughter to Dr. Samuel Betton, 
the father of Dr. Thomas Forrest Betton and grandfather of Samuel Betton, 
Esq., all of White Cottage, Manheim street. Col. Forrest was elected to the 
XVIth Congress, was defeated by Henry Baldwin for the XVIIth, but was 
afterward elected to fill a vacancy in the same. He was a regular attendant 
upon Friends' Meeting and used their dress. His footsteps were not by any 
means noiseless on his entrance ; he had a habit of making all the noise he 
could, so that the}'^ might know he had come. He died in 1825. He was a 
citizen of the State in Schuvlkill (member of the Fish House) from 1790 until 
1800. 

In 1811, Col. Forrest sold his place to Mr. James S. Duval, a retired French 
merchant of Philadelphia, who added greatly to the mansion and built other 
out buildings for various purposes, and upon the already good basis of fruit 
and tree culture, he constructed a veritable Pomona Grove, as he called it. 
His taste lay in the direction of trees and fruit of all kinds. His constant 
intercourse with France and his ability to pay for a fancy permitted him to 
lay the French Pomona under constant contribution, and for years scarcely a 
vessel arrived from France or her colonies which did not bring something to 
beautif}' his home. His gardens and lawns were stocked with the rarest fruits 
and trees. Many varieties remained for years almost unique. A few 
memorials of Forrest and Duval remain, but " with the new masters came the 
new men." In this instance they came as landscape gardening fiends, and 
most of the natural and fostered beauty of the place has been sacrificed to 
achieve a result in symmetry which is, at best, only suggestive of an ordinary 
inter-mural park. 



GERMANTOWN. 185 

Next is the residence of the Rev. John Rodney, rector Emeritus of St. Luke's 
Church. Mr. Rodney married Mr. Duval's daughter, and has lived with his 
wife here since 1829, with the exception of a few years when they resided at 
Pomona Grove. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1879, and continue 
in good health, he in his ninetieth and she in her eighty-sixth year. The 
first occupant of the present house was Mr. Samuel Wagner, who married 
another daughter of Mr. Duval. They also lived to celebrate their golden 
wedding. The upper end of the house was the John Keyser house, and is old. 
The new house was built into it, as it were,, and the old part from the upjjer 
wall to the new house is unchanged and the peculiarities of its internal 
architecture remain. The old double shojD door forms part of the partition in 
the same position as formerly, when it was ready to be used on the approach 
of a customer. Mr. Watson says of this house : " Jacob Keyser, now an aged 
citizen of about eighty-nine years, was then a lad (Battle of Germantown). 
He with his father's family lived where is noM' the house of Rev. Mr. Rodney. 
Its high position above the street enabled them by placing an apple under 
the cellar door to peep abroad and see the battle in the opposite field 
distinctly." The march of municipal improvements has made the cellar 
higher than ever, but the door and the apple are things of the past. 

THE MANUAL LABOR SCHOOL. 

The Rev. Dr. Blair, a Presbyterian clergyman, who aided in the founding 
of the First Presbyterian Church, though he was not its pastor, lived in the 
historic house at East Walnut lane already spoken of in our last article. 
Services were held in his house at the beginning of the enterprise. He is 
buried in the graveyard in the rear of the Young Men's Christian Association 
Building, which was the edifice of that church before the new building was 
erected on Chelten avenue. 

The Manual Labor School afterward occupied the house in which Dr. Blair 
had lived. The Rev. Dr. J. P. Tustin, who was a pupil there, has given me 
some information on the subject. Rev. Dr. George Junkin, afterward President 
of Washington and Lee University, was the head of the institution. Mrs. 
Prescott, the authoress and poet, was his daughter. Another daughter was 
Mrs. Hannah Jackson. George Junkin, Esq., of Walnut street, is his son. 
The school was under the Old School Presbyterians. There was a number of 
wooden buildings for its use, which have disappeared. There were as many 
as one hundred and fifty students at one time, and the corner must have 
presented a busy scene in those days when so many young and earnest hearts 
enlivened it. Some of the students became eminent, and doubtless in after life 
threw many a glance backward at the scene of toil of head and hands. The 
school merged into Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa. It was conducted in 
Germantown from 1830 to 1833. The Rev. Dr. McCay, afterward President 
of the University of South Carolina, was a professor. Rev. David X. Junkin 
was another professor. He was a pastor in Chicago afterward. The pupils 



186 GERMANTOWN. 

taught Sunday school classes where they could find such good work. Some 
taught in the Baptist Church in Roxborough, three miles distant. Thirty 
years afterward the Hon. Horatio Gates Jones had the pleasure of meeting 
his former Sunday school teacher, the Rev. Charles F. McCay,just mentioned. 
The scholar recognized the teacher's name on a hotel record. 

The Manual Labor School system has not generally succeeded in this 
country. It was tried at Lane Theological Seminary, near Cincinnati, and at 
Bristol College, but the plan did not work, though adverse circumstances maj' 
have helped to obstruct it. The system succeeded well in Mt. Holyoke 
Female School, under the indefatigable Miss Lyon. Manual Labor Schools 
have lately been introduced in connection with the public school system in 
Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia and Baltimore. See article in Harper's Monthly, 
February, 1886. In France the system lias been a success. There is need 
that head and hands should work together to make a fair equipoise, and it is 
sinful to strain the poor brain by constant effort. I know a clergyman who 
is an amateur wood carver, and he must find pleasant relief from professional 
toil in such work, while his house is beautified as the result. There is a 
foohsh idea for a republic that labor is degrading, as if an idle man could be 
more respectable than a busy one. The Jews were right in teaching their 
children ti-ades so that they might be in condition to support themselves if 
need arose. The biography of Rev. George Junkin, D. U., LL. D., by D. X. 
Junkin, D. D., gives an account of the present school. 

Some philanthropic gentlemen in and around Philadelphia, who w^ere 
Presbyterians, inaugurated this institution to aid in educating young men for 
the ministry. Manuel labor was introduced for health and economy. Dr. 
Junkin had tried the system in a small way in his last parish in Milton, Pa., 
and had much heart in the scheme. He was qualified for a leader in the 
work as combining two rare qualifications, those of a literary scholar and of a 
man skillful in mechanics and agriculture. After Dr. Junkin took charge of 
the school an abundance of students came until accommodations failed. The 
Doctor showed energy and decision in his laborious position. Many young 
men followed him from the region of the Susquehanna, whence he had come. 
Still the fearful question of needed funds stared him in the face, and the in- 
stitution was in debt. It is easier to raise money when a good per cent is 
expected than when benevolence calls and the reward is to wait until the 
next world. There was a farm and workshops, and the responsibility fell on 
the Doctor of carrying on the whole concern when the school alone was 
enough to tax his powers. He continued the drag for twenty months, and 
hel])ed to educate many who have since stood high in learned professions and 
State and National councils. 

There were literary societies and other aids, which gave the school the 
nature of a college. Prof McCay was a fine scholar and a philosopher, and 
was the efficient coadjutor of Dr. Junkin in instruction. He became Professor 
of Natural History in the University of Georgia, and President of the College 



GERMANTOWN. 187 

of South Carolina. Dr. Junkin's brother, the writer of the biography, was 
also an instructor. 

A year's experiment showed that Germantown was not the place for the 
work. Living was as dear as in the city. The materials for the workshop 
must be bought at city prices, and brought out over the turnpike at heavy 
tolls with great cost, and the manufactures must be returned to the city at 
similar cost to compete with the products of city workmen. Packing boxes 
were made as at Bristol College. These, with trunks, constituted the principal 
articles of industry. The students were paid by the hour, and the loss fell on 
the schooL A site on the Delaware, above Philadelphia, Avas selected for re- 
moval, where there would be water transportation. That plan, however, was 
not carried out, but the result was the founding of Lafayette College. 

In addition to his heavy school work Dr. .Junkin preached in Germantown, 
or Philadelphia, or elsewhere, on Sundays, and held a Bible class and weekly 
prayer meeting at the school, and was ready to aid in Christian work. His 
Bible classes were very instructive, and he gave theological information in 
them. The Rev. Dr. William Neill was then pastor of the Germantown Pres- 
byterian Church, and their intercourse was fraternal. 

Lafayette College was chartered in 1826. Through the influence of Dr. 
Steel, of Abington, who was an influential clergyman. Dr. .Junkin was elected 
President in 1832. In April of this year Dr. Junkin removed to Easton to 
enter upon his new duties. The professors and nearly all of the students of 
the Manual Labor Academy went with him. He tried the manual labor 
system at Lafayette at first, earnestly believing that mind, body and spirit 
should all be educated. He gave money and toil to carrj^ it out, but when he 
went from that college to take the presidency of Miami University the system 
was abandoned. 

In Easton temporary buildings were erected by the hands of the students 
for increasing the number of pupils till more permanent edifices arose. So 
the manual labor did practical good, and those who occujDy the fine buildings 
that now crown the hill at Easton, and who enjoy the fruits of Mr. Pardee's 
liberality, should sometimes think of "the day of small things" and remem- 
ber good Dr. Junkin. His biographer gives the secret of his success in these 
words : " Dr. Junkin was a man of strong faith in Christ and of much prayer." 

A bronze tablet to the memory of Dr. Junkin has been placed in Lafayette 
College. Prof Thos. C. Porter, LL. D., delivered an address at its unveiling 
in May. A. D. '87. Rev. Chas. Elliott, D. D., made the presentation, and Rev. 
President Knox received it on behalf of the College. Dr. Junkin was the 
father-in-law of General " Stonewall " Jackson. 

The three-story house at the lower corner of East Walnut lane and Main 
street, occupied by the Misses Burkhart, and owned by the heirs of George 
W. Carpenter, stands on ground as high as the steeple of the State House. It 
was built by the Rev. Dr. Blair. The academy farm extended in the rear of 
the house and covered many acres. 



188 GERMANTOWN. 

Let us step into 'Squire Thomas's office and learn from him. the history of 
this most interesting corner. On September 12, 1749, Christain Warmer (so 
the name is there spelled), makes a will which is proved November 4, A. D. 
1768. His wife was named Lydia. The will shows that Christopher Witt 
formerly granted the property to him. It refers to the former owner, John 
Doeden, who owned lot seventeen, east side, as marked on Ward's copy of the 
old draught of Germantown, while on that Wermer (so written) and Andreas 
Souplis owned lot eighteen just north of it. Dr. Witt appears to have owned 
where two Warmer houses stood, though his line maj^ have been below the 
site of the Blair house. The old shoe shop; lately demolished, was one of the 
Warmer houses. Warmer also owned land above East Walnut lane. Eliza- 
beth Warmer married John Leibert. Christian willed the old shoe shop to 
his daughter. The house below, occupied by John Kerrigan and owned by 
Miss Haines, was also her property. A deed marked April 1, 1775, conveyed 
the corner to Dr. William Shippen. Dr. Blair buys of Leibert and other ad- 
ministrators, who represent the Warmer estate. The Warmer will referred 
to speaks of the wall of the graveyard at St. Michael's Church, which was a 
family burial place. Rev. Dr. Blair married Dr. William Shippen's daughter 
Susanna. Her father gives her a house and fifty-seven acres of land at this 
point. She conveys this to her husband. He wills everything to his wife, 
who survives him. Mrs. Frances Pierce, daughter of Dr. Blair, afterward 
lives here. This house is styled, " The Mansion House." Dr. Shippen was 
buried from this house. There was a famous funeral. A Warmer house 
stood on the site of Dr. Deaver's residence. No. 5075. I believe that it is 
thought tliat Dr. Witt lived with the Warmers. 

The Pierces sell to Samuel Bucknell, a manufacturing jeweler, in 1827. In 
1829 he conveyes the property to the Manual Labor Academy Association. 
The school had forty-two acres. On May 5, 1832, the Association conveys to 
James Ogilbe. The same j^ear he orders by will that it shall be sold within a 
year of his death. The intention was that it should be Congress Hall Hotel. 
It was afterward called " Our House," and was kept by Col. Alexander as a 
branch of his city hotel for summer use. The executors sell at public sale 
and Samuel Bucknell buys the property the second time. He sells again this 
year, '32, to Wm. E. & Zenas Wells. It afterwards falls into Col. Alexander's 
hands. Chas. Harlan became owner in 1850 and in 1851 sold to Charlotte 
Cushman with sixty acres more belonging to Dr. Philip Physic's estate, which 
fronted on Washington lane. Streets were opened in 1852 by 'Squire Thomas, 
by direction of Miss Cushman. 

The following letter finishes the account of the famous Blair House, 
although it should be added that it was once used as a Ladies' School. It 
certainly has had many vicissitudes : 

Georgetown, D. C. 

TowNSEND Ward, Esq. — Dear Sir : — My aunt Miss Susan Shippen Rober- 
deau has written what she could recall of the Blair house, which I transcribe 
as follows : 



GERMANTOWN. 189 

" The Blair house was purchased by Dr. Wm. Shippen the elder, as a farm 
of many acres. [Watson in his Annals says, p. 32 of Vol. II., this house was 
once the residence of a Dr. Witt, a sort of conjurer. Witt is mentioned also on 
pages 22 and also I, 267. — R. B.] AA^hen the British entered Philadelphia 
[1777] the family fled to Jersey, where my great-grandfather had large pos- 
sessions. [One large tract called Oxford Furnace was in 1809 or thereabouts 
sold to .Judge Morris Robeson and has been the home of that family ever 
since. .Judge Robeson was the father of Secretary of Navy, George M. Robe- 
son.] A skirmish was fought in the Blair house, during the battle of Ger- 
mantown, and the building used as a hospital. The room I slept in had the 
mark of bullets in the wall, and the print of a man's foot in blood on the 
floor. My grandmother [Mrs. Dr. Blair] would not have it removed. After 
the battle Lord Cornwallis told my grandmother he preserved the sofa and 
used it for his bed when his soldiers were destroying everything [this must 
have been not at the Battle of Germantown where Lord Howe commanded, 
but at the entrance of the English Army into Philadelphia for Lord Corn- 
wallis was in command there]. 

" Dr. Shippen's town house [Dr. Shippen the elder], my grandfather's, was at 
the corner of Fourth and Market Streets, where he practiced his profession. 
The Blair house in Germantown is now a boarding house [it having passed 
out of the family many years ago]. The " bow room " at the side was built 
by Dr. Shippen but an extension has since been built to accommodate the 
boarders. The garden extended towards Philadelphia filled with rare plants 
and trees. The grounds also extended back a long distance to the township 
line. [My mother, Mrs. F. Selina Buchanan adds this last clause. I do not 
know the distance of the township line, but Miss Elizabeth C. Morris, an old 
resident, deceased some 15 years ago, told me the grounds extended back to a 
creek, pointing it out to me. It must have been half a mile oflF. — R. B ] The 
house on the other side [northwest] was built by Dr. Blair for his son, Samuel 
Blair, Jr. [Walnut street, which runs between these two houses and close to 
the Blair house has been cut through of late years.] In the house beyond, 
Andrew Heath lived, whose name was coupled with that of Melchior Meng, 
' For old times,' as the song goes. 

" The church on Main street, now the Y. M. C. A., was built on ground 
given by my grandfather [Dr. Blair]. My father [Isaac Roberdeau afterward 
Lieut. Col. U. S. A., and chief of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, was 
the architect. The Bureau was organized under his supervision in 1818. 
He was placed at the head of it where he remained until his death in 1829.] 
The organ which was imported from England, had two angels with wings 
extended one on each side, as large as life. One holding a trumpet, the 
other a lyre. My childish imaginations thought the music came from them. 
They were indeed beautiful. 

" I wish I could distinctly remember the stories told me of the Blair house ; 
it was alwaj's said to be haunted. [The belief in haunted houses was common 



190 GERMANTOWN. 

in those days according to Watson. I think I have read in his Annals a 
confirmatory statement that the Blair house was thought to be haunted, but a 
search recently has failed to find the passage.] Ghosts were seen, servants 
were always talking of the ghosts they had seen in the cellar ; soldiers with 
swords walking round. Myself and sisters were born in that house. Mrs. 
Washington who was a friend of the family used to visit at this house." 

The above is my aunt's own writing save the portions in brackets which I 
have added myself. 

The relationships may be more clear to you from the following pedigree : 

Dr. Wm. Shippen, the elder^Susan Harrison. 
I 



I I 

Dr. Wm. Shippen, the younger. Susan^Rev. Dr. Blair. 



' , I 

Issue living in Fhila. : Su'^an S.=Col. J. Roberdeau, 

^1 Chief of Tpg'l Eng's. 

I I 

Su'san Shippen, F. SeUna=Pay Director McKean 

Writer of the above article. Buchanan, U. S. N. 

Biographies of these will be found in my genealogies of the Roberdeau and 
of the Shippen famihes which you have in the Library. 

Of Dr. Blair, I may say, he w^as an exceedinglj'' talented and learned man, 
and a fine Greek and Latin scholar. In fact all of the Blair family have been 
talented. To this family belong the Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General 
under Lincoln, and his brother the late Gen. F. P. Blair. Also Vice President 
John C. Breckenridge, who is a grandson of Rev. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith ; 
besides others of less note. 

Dr. Shippen was wealthy, and said his daughter should not marry any one 
.who could not lay down "guinea for guinea." His daughter however was not 
of the same mind, but preferred the talented young divine who could not lay 
down a copper farthing to his father-in-law's guineas. The marriage proved 
a very happy one, and they lived to celebrate their golden wedding, and to 
reach the ages of 77 and 78 respectively. 

I remain, yours very truly, 

Roberdeau Buchanan. 

P. S. — The stone house, the first or second [on Main street, S. W. side] 
below Tulpehocken, Mrs. Roberdeau lived in for about a year after her 
husband's death. 

Among Ward's papers was this note : 

Philadelphia, March 30, 1758. 

" Last Wednesday, the 22d instant between 10 and 11 o'clock P. M. a slight 
earthquake was noticed here. 

" At the same time the earthquake was felt at Germantown; some say, they 
felt a shock twice within two minutes. Some were enough shaken to get 



GERMANTOWN. 191 

awake and know at once it was an earthquake. It has not yet been heard 
how far it extended. Also the following : 

" Those of my readers who may have perused George Ordi's delightful life 
of Alexander Wilson, will be interested in the fact that the great Naturalist 
was once in love with a Miss Rittenhouse, w'ho lived on this ancient lane. 
Neither of them ever married, and at his death, Wilson left her a chest of 
papers and drawings. In time she too passed away, and many years after- 
wards, one of her family parted with what remained in the chest to Mr. Wm. 
Redwood Wright. Among the scraps was an account of an early immigrant. 
Michael Hinego, written in the year 1811, by an appreciative acquaintance. 
Fortunately the account is accompanied with a water-color drawing of the 
subject, who was clad in a blue coat. By the engraving, w^e have a veritable 
representation of the costume of at least one of the men of Pennsylvania's 
earlier daj's. The brief preface is, " Mr. Wilson may make an interesting 
picture of these barren incidents w^hich we have collected from the old man, 
as he is congenially disposed in some things. His memory begins to fail 
him, and it is not easy to communicate with him." I have thought it would 
not be proper to take any liberty with the quite creditable production of an 
unknown author : 

. " Michael Hinego was born in the year 1726, in the county of Hanan in the 
Circle of the Low'er Rhine, Germany. He received a tolerable education, but 
the death of his parents before his sixteenth year blasted his hopes and expec- 
tations, the political convulsions which then agitated Germany, having ex- 
tended their fatal influence to the place of his nativity. Persecuted and 
oppressed by tlie hand of despotism, with that regret which characterizes a 
feeling heart, in his twentieth year, he forever relinquished the scenes ' where 
in early life he sported,' and from the desolation and distraction of wars 
sought an asylum in the peaceful and far distant wilds of America; poor, 
friendless and unenterprising, he avoided society and resided for some years 
after his arrival on the banks of the Delaware near Trenton ; — his subsistence 
there was chiefly ' the fortune of the chase.' Sometime after he chose for his 
residence a small spot of ground in York county, Pennsylvania, which he 
purchased and where he now resides. 

" His residence is on the sloping side of a rich valley open to the morning 
sun surrounded by wastes and barrens. Remote from man he passed his 
days in converse with the warblers of the wood and field. During the 
summer months, the wild retired situation of his little farm renders it the re- 
treat of thousands of the feathered tribes. By the help of curiouslj'^ constructed 
traps he can make himself master of any bird that passes him. His house is 
quite an aviary. He is a man of observation, intelligent, honest and well 
disposed. He is pleased with those who occasionally A'isit him and is ex- 
tremely hospitable and generous. He is well acquainted with the history and 
habits of most of the birds that frequent the country around. A scanty 
gleaning from the little farm, with some fine fruits, constitute his subsistence. 



192 GERMANTOWN. ' 

He is now in his eighty-fifth year, and from his temperate habits and hardy 
constitution may survive many years. Once or twice in a year he visits the 
town of York dressed in an antiquated, fanciful manner. He brought his 
dress from Germany and sets high value on it. 

"Beginning to feel the infirmities of old age, some years ago he was per- 
suaded to take to himself a partner who, like himself, had had little inter- 
course with the world. (Mr. Wilson has seen her, and the power of her 
charms he would be fully sensible of.) His singularities consist chiefly in his 
solitary habits — cut off from the world — in his hermitage only he feels happy 
and independent. The reasons (for this) one could not learn from him. He 
is a man of reflection, and possibly becoming disgusted with the bustle, care- 
and strife attending a connection with society, he sought a peaceful retreat 
' where every grove is melodj' and every gale is peace.' He delights in the 
healthier air of uncultivated nature, particularly in the music of birds. In 
his morning walks he is saluted with the wild warbles of the wood robin and 
his evening retreat is cheered with the mellow notes of the thrush and mock- 
ing bird. 

" A few 3'ears ago a singular circumstance induced his claiming the assistance 
of social institutions. He is expert in snaring foxes and other noxious 
animals that disturb his musical retreat. He had placed a large fox-trap in a 
retired place in the wood. An ill-disposed person who lived near him, whom 
he suspected for having frequently pilfered his fruits and robbed his traps,, 
was caught in the trap. He carried it home with him, and Hinego, having 
some presumption against him, sued him. Not being able to make out his 
case fully, judgment was however against him. His presumptions afterwards 
proved to be right, and his opponent, greatly to the old man's satisfaction,, 
left the country." 

THE CHEW HOUSE AND THE BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 

" Down the dark future, through long generations, 

The echoing sounds grow fainter and then cease; 
And, like a bell, with solemn, sweet vibrations, 

I hear once more the voice of Christ say, ' Peace !' " 

" Peace ! and no longer from its brazen portals 

7he blast of war's great organ shakes the skies! 
But beautiful as songs of the immortals, 

The holy melodies of love arise." 

— Longfellow. 

For more than a century the Chew house has been an object of curious 
interest to visitors to Germantown. Watson tells us that Penington's country 
heuse occupied the site before the Chews obtained it, and that "the present- 
kitchen wings of Chew's house sufficed for the simplicity of gentlemen of those 
days." The present dwelling is familiar from the various pictures of it which 
have appeared, so that those who have never visited it have been made 






ftt^ 



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h,^^-^^y^f,i^ 



Hit 



W ■' ji - ifc r ■ ■* -»» 




, * 'I ,P1S.[ *^^ «*■ ■" CT^ 1 
M ,1 ' |ir-'il' f^rVi 




THE CHEW HOUSE, FROM " THOMPSON WESTCOTT'S HISTORIC MANSIONS OF 
PHILADELPHIA," PUBLISHED BY PORTER & COATES. 



GERMANTOWN. 193 

acquainted with its outer aspect. Tiie cut which illustrates this article is 
obtained by the courtesj^ of Mr. Henry Coates, of Porter & Coates, Publishers. 

The Chew family are ancient and of high standing. A lengthy account of 
them is given in The Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania, by Charles P. Keith, 
and a short sketch in Willis P. Hazard's third additional volume of Watson's 
Annals. Col. Samuel Chew came from Chewton, Somersetshire, England, to 
this country in 1671, with Lord Baltimore, and settled on West river, in Anne 
Arundel county, Marjdand. John Chew had emigrated to Virginia still 
earlier, in the reign of James I. He was a member of Assembly. He is said 
to have been the father of Samuel Chew, of Maryland, who was great-grand- 
father of the Councillor. Larkin Chew, a relative of Samuel, lived in Vir- 
ginia, and married the great-aunt of President Madison, and was an ancestor 
of President Taylor. The Chew family were longer settled in- America than 
any other family represented in the Provincial Council. 

Samuel Chew was a judge. A second one of the same name, being the 
father of Councillor Chew, was known as Samuel Chew, of Maidstone, an 
estate near Annapolis. He was a doctor. He moved to Delaware and had a 
house in Dover. He was Chief Justice of the three Lower Counties, which 
now form the State of Delaware. He was a Friend, but learned in the law. 
He gave a charge declaring defensive war lawful when the French threatened 
the Colonies in 1745. Benjamin Chew, the Councillor, was the son of this 
gentleman. He was bred a Friend, but became an adherent of the Church of 
England. About 1761 he built Cliveden, as the Germantown house is called, 
for a country seat. There were about sixty acres of land in the property. 
Benjamin Chew was fond of study. He was a student in the law office of 
Andrew Hamilton, in Philadelphia, and was highly esteemed by his pre- 
ceptor for his talents and diligence. When the distinguished Hamilton died 
he continued his studies in the Middle Temple, London. On his return he 
secured extensive practice. He became Attorney General of the Province and 
held other important oflBces. He owned an elegant house in Third street, 
below Walnut, near Willing's alley, which Charles Willing built for his son-in- 
law. Col. Byrd, of Virginia, and which Governor John Penn and wife once 
occupied. Here he entertained Washington and Adams and leading members 
of the Continental Congress of 1774. John Adams notes a banquet at Judge 
Chew's in his diary, and describes the dinner in detail, as if giving a bill 
of fare. 

Judge Chew was speaker of the Assembly of the Lower Counties in 1756. 
He was a faithful and laborious officer. Miers Fisher declared that the Chief 
Justice told the Grand Jury boldty, in reply to a query during his charge, that 
when the King, or his Ministers, exceeded their constitutional authority sub- 
mission to their mandate became treason. His official positions ceased with 
the loss of royal authority, though he acted as Register General for a time. 
Judge Chew was arrested, as he had held office under English rule. Governor 
John Penn and several Friends were also arrested. Many Friends opposed the 



194 GERMANTOWN. 

war on peace principles. Chew signed a parole and went to the Union Iron 
Works, in Hunterdon county, New Jersej^ where he remained ten months. 
After his release he remained quiet during the rest of the war. He was 
ujDright and honorable, and was the friend of AVashington both before and after 
the war". Governor Mifflin appointed him President Judge of the High Court 
of Errors and Appeals. He died in Third street, January 20th, A. D. 1810, at 
the age of eighty-seven years. He was buried in St. Peter's churchyard. Judge 
Chew married, in 1747, Mary Galloway, daughter of John Galloway. She died 
in 1755. In 1757 he married Elizabeth Oswald, niece of Joseph Turner, the 
Councillor. She died in 1819. He had a large family. One daughter married 
Alexander Wilcocks. His daughter Harriet married Charles Carrol, of Carrol- 
ton. Sophia, who was at the Me.schianza, married Henry Phillips. Peggy, 
whose champion was Major Andre at the Meschianza, became the wife of John 
Eager Howard, of Baltimore. He M'as a Revolutioharj' officer, and Lee said 
that he turned the fortune of the day at the battle of Cowpens. He was 
Governor of Marjdand and a United States Senator, as well as a member of the 
Continental Congress. Washington attended his wedding. 

In 1779 Judge Chew sold Cliveden to Blair McClenachan for £2500, but 
repurchased it in 1797 for £8500. The Judge was attorney for the Penns, with 
Tench Francis, after John Penn went to England. Benjamin Chew, Jr., was 
the Judge's successor in the Cliveden estate. He was born in Philadelphia in 
1758. He studied law finishing his course at the Middle Temple, London. In 
1788 he married Catharine Banning. He entertained Lafayette in 1825. A 
painting in the familj^ of the event keeps up its memory. Benjamin Chew . 
died at Cliveden, April 30th, 1844, at the age of eighty-six years. Two of his 
sons, Benjamin Chew, Jr., and Samuel Chew, became lawyers, and occupied 
high positions. Miss Ann Sophia Penn Chew, daughter of Benjamin Chew 
and granddaughter of Chief Justice Chew, the Councillor, still possesses Clive- 
den and resides in the old mansion. 

The brave old house is interesting because it really became a fort, and in its 
resistance showed the honest work of the masons of a former day, and the 
excellent lime which bound its stones together in the firm wall. The house is 
of ample dimensions. It is two stories in height, with an attic, and there is a 
pent roof There is a door on the north side, as well as in front. The window 
above the north door is in a line lower than the second story windows which 
are its companions, to make a little variety in the plan of the building. There 
are wings on the upper and lower side. A vine on the rear wall of the north 
wing gives a rustic look. A projection of woodwork surmounts the front door, 
which faces on the Main street. The wings are plastered in part, while two 
dormer Windows, semi-circular at the top, break the front of the roof." The 
house stands lengthwise with Main street. Three wooden urns stand on brick 
pediments, and there is one on each end of the roof It is pleasant sometimes 
to see the remains of an old fashion on an ancient house. The main house is 
plastered on the south end. There is a quiet and dignified simplicity about the 



GERMANTOWN. 195 

antique mansion that makes it look as if it had a history, both as to family and 
governmental life, and was proud of it. The ancient lawn, embracing ample 
grounds, adorns the old place ; and its natural beauties exceed all architectural 
displays. The mansion stands very far back from the street, which adds to the 
picturesqueness of the view in front. 

On entering, a large hall greets the incomer. These halls were a pleasant 
characteristic of old-time mansions. Two pillars stand in its midst, and two 
others against the side walls, with wood-carving about them. The wood-work 
in the interior is fine. The frame work and carving over the doors, and the 
cornice is the result of hand labor. Machinery now usurps much of this work. 
There is a wainscot in the parlor, which room deserves special remembrance, 
because the brave and good Lafayette breakfasted in it. There is more wood- 
work over the fire-place, which is ceiled. An inner door has the old-fashioned 
ornamental frame-work around and above it, which is so pleasant a reminder 
of former days, though old fashions in building are again reviving. The marks 
of the battle are still seen both within and without the house. The outer wall 
was broken by bullets, and the bullet marks still remain in the plaster of the 
hall, and are seen on the wall. A small room opens from the hall on each 
side, in the front of the house. The panes of the windows are small and the 
divisions of wood-work between them are broad. The rear hall is newer than 
the front hall, and it contains the staircase with its wooden railing. The front 
doors are heavy. There are yet marks on the floor made hj muskets when 
they were struck there in emptying their charges. An engraving of Col. Mus- 
grave adorns the hall, the Chew House being represented in the back -ground. 
H. L. Abbot was the artist, and the date is 1796. It was engraved in England 
by G. S. Facius in 1797. It is inscribed, " Lieut. John Thomas Mu,?grave, 
Governor of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort. Colonel of 76th Regiment of Foot. 
Engraved from a picture painted 1786, with a view of Mr. Chew's house near 
Germantown in Pennsylvania, 1777." Wm. Penn in treaty with the Indians 
in 1681 is another appropriate engraving in the old hall. There is a painting 
of Joseph Turner, an Englishman, the uncle of Miss Ann Chew's grandmother. 
The effort has been to keep everything in its ancient condition as far as possi- 
ble. There are some quaint mirror frames of open wood-work, which came 
from the Penn family, being a part of their drawing-room furniture. Two 
large and two small mirrors of this antique cast ornament the parlor walls. 
Mr. E. L. Henry, the New York artist, has a picture in the school-room of the 
firing at the battle. A rear building has been added to the house. There is 
a circular connection between the main house and the kitchen which is open, 
with pillars. An American gentleman told Washington that he could show 
him an unprotected door, but they found the columns here and thought it a 
British barricade. Now the colonnade is built into the addition. The stone 
steps in front of the house are antiques. The dining-room, with its wood-fire 
in the fire-place, was found cheerful on the wintry day of my visit. The long 
sticks of wood were such as warmed the worthies of Rcvolutionarv times, 



196 GERMANTOWN. 

while the wood-work around the fire-place and a quaint closet, kept up the 
idea of antiquity. The stone of the outer wall of the house is in its original 
condition, except where the broken jjart has been re-plastered. In the ancient 
barn, in the rear of the house, is an old coach of the Chew family, like that of 
Washington. The lower half is colored yellow and the upper half black. It 
has large glass windows, and the early " Germantown wagons " of which Ward 
speaks, were light in comparison with it. The springs are of leather, and there 
is a fifth wheel under the front, as coach-makers style it. The bod}^ is semi- 
circular. The drivers who guided that coach are long since dead, and the box 
is lonely. The faces which gazed out of those windows no longer look on 
earthly scenes. Will the relic stand until it goes to pieces of itself, like Oliver 
Wendell Holmes' " One Hpss Shay? " The Chew grounds were increased by 
purchase. The Clements property was bought by Benj. Chew, Jr. The very 
extensive lawn used to be still larger. It has a quiet country appearance. 
Quiet as the old house and lawn look under the spring sun, or the winter snow, 
this was once the scene of mad rage, and murderous strife when a young na- 
tion contended for life, struggling against its unnatural mother ; and men of 
the same speech and lineage were seeking to destroy each other's lives. The 
door, lately entered so easily, was then barred and defended, so that entrance 
was impossible. The windows blazed with the fire of m~usketry, and the dead 
and dying were on the court-yard. 

But let us consider the circumstances which made this a centre of an impor- 
tant contest. More than a year had passed since the Declaration of Independ- 
ence had been read in Philadelphia. The patriots could not foresee the weary 
days which were to follow, but there was much disaffection among the Ameri- 
cans themselves, and those who dwelt around Germantown were by no means 
unanimously in favor of the war. The intrepid Washington was lying with 
his poorly clad army, on the Metuchen Hills, on the Skippack creek, about 
twenty miles from Germantown. It is said that he believed that a withdrawal 
of some of Howe's forces to operate against the forts on the Delaware river 
would weaken him temporarily, and afford a good opportunity for attack, but 
that by a change in Howe's plans this advantage was lost. Howe, with a 
large force was camped in Germantown, his line running at right angles to 
Main street, the central point being the Old Market-House square, where the 
Presbyterian Church and the Soldiers' Monument now stand. The Market 
House appears in the picture in Watson's Annals. Washington determined 
to attempt a surprise, and to do this by sending various detachments by 
various routes, in such a manner that they should meet at a given time, and 
the Market-House seems to have been the central point of attack. The move 
was well planned, Washington, having been defeated at the Brandywine in 
the preceding month, and the massacre at Paoli having lately occurred, both 
officers and men were ready to strive to regain a good reputation for bravery. 
The large force of Howe in Philadelphia, the Capital of the new Republic, was 
a standing disgrace to the cause of freedom. While Washington had been 



GERMANTOWN. 197 

lying at Pennybacker's Mill, between the Perkiomen and Skippack creeks, 
new troops had rejoined him and they could be put in action. 

The plan of surprise was as follows : Generals Sullivan and Wayne, flanked 
by the brigade of the Frenchman, Conway, were to advance by Chestnut 
Hill, General Armstrong, with the Pennsylvania militia, was to pass along the 
Manatawny, or Ridge road, by Van Deering's mill, afterwards, Robinson's 
mill on the Wissahickon, and strike the enemy on their left and rear. Gene- 
rals Greene and Stephens flanked by McDougall's brigade, were to come by 
the Limekiln road and attack the right wing of the enemy. The Maryland 
and New Jersej' militia, led by General Smallwood and Form an, were ordered 
to take the Old York Road and fall on the rear of the right wing of the British. 
On October 3, 1777, in the earh'^ evening, Washington and his army quietly 
left their camp, and proceeded toward Germantown. Washington was in the 
division of Sullivan and Wayne. Tear away the gaudy trappings of war for 
a moment, and on this dark night see what a dim monster presents him- 
self. A crowd of poorly clad, and poorly shod men have left loving homes to 
steal in the darkness upon their fellow Englishmen, who have come thousands 
of miles across the sea to coerce, and if need be, slay them. Many are march- 
ing tq certain death, and thoughts of father and mother, wife and child, are 
painful, as the terrible uncertainty of the coming day stares them in the face. 
God hasten the time foretold by the prophet, when swords shall be beaten into 
plow-shares, and spears into pruning hooks. While we behold the smiling 
fields and beautiful residences of Germantown may we never forget the great 
cost at which our present prosperity was obtained. 

Parties were sent out in advance of the American army, to secure any one 
who might give notice to the English of their approach. The effort was to 
reach the British pickets before daylight. The roads were rough, and it was 
nearly sunrise when the army came out of the woods at Chestnut Hill. At 
dawn the British patrols detected the approach of the enemy and gave an alarm. 
Judge Allen's house then occupied the site of the late James Gowen's fine resi- 
dence, and that house afterwards became Mount Airy College. English 
soldiers were stationed in it, and here'was the beginning of the eventful day's 
contest. Here the surprised British soldiers were at once put under arms. 
At 7 o'clock the advance force of Sullivan, led by Conway, and niainly from 
his brigade, attacked the pickets at Allen's house. The British had two .six 
pounders, but they were driven back to the main body, which was constituted 
mainly of the 40th Regiment, and a battalion of light infantry. Sullivan's 
main body left the roads and took the fields at the right and formed in a lane, 
which led to the Schuylkill, and attacked in such numbers, and so vigorously, 
that the enemy gave way, after a spirited defense. The Americans pursued. 
Col. Musgrave, the commander of the British center, and five companies of 
the 40th Regiment, entered Judge Chew's house, then occupied by the servants 
of the family. Musgrave had been encamped east of the house, and may have 
observed its strong walls with a soldier's eye before he found a needed refuge 



198 GERMANTOWN. 

in it. From his retreat he fired on Woodford's brigade and checked its ad- 
vance. The Americans attacked the extemporized castle in vain. 

Though most of the generals were with their various commands, a hasty 
council was held by the officers at hand. Gen. Knox was much esteemed as 
an adviser by Washington. His verdict was to stick to the military rule, 
which forbade leaving a castle in the rear, and it was followed. The rule is 
generally a good one, and a professor in college once gave it me as a maxim 
for studies. In the present case Col. Pickering's advice to press on and leave 
a regiment to watch the Chew house would probably have secured a better 
chance of success. Old warfare did not adapt itself to emergencies as well as 
that of the present day. It went by iron rule. 

Lieutenant Matthew Smith, of Virginia, was assisting Adjutant General 
Pickering in the duties of his oQice. A flag of truce wnth summons to sur- 
render was suggested, Pickering asserting that the flag would be fired on, 
but Smith bravely volunteered to carry it. He was wounded, and died a few 
daj's afterwards. 

Maxwell's brigade cannonaded the house, but they struck it obliquely, in- 
stead of in front, and the strong w^alls mocked their assault, and the brave 
English soldiers within were akin to those described in Tennyson's '' Charge 
of the Light Brigade." So the attempt failed. Major White, of Virginia, an 
aid of Sullivan, strove to set the house on fire, but was shot from the cellar 
and killed. Years after his son was much moved in visiting the scene of his 
father's death. De Chastellux (Vol. I, p. 213), quoted by Lossing, says that 
M. Mauduit also made an effort to set the brave house on fire with burning straw. 

Many Americans were slain at this point, and it may well be called the 
turning-point of the Battle of Germantown. The inmates of the house were 
so well protected that they sufiered scarcely any loss. Wayne's divison was 
brought back to the Chew house, and this uncovered the left flank of Sullivan, 
and broke the plans of the Americans. 

The advanced post of the British had been below Allen's house at Mount 
Airy. The next outpost on the Main road was the 40th Regiment, under Col'. 
Thomas Musgrave, which entered the Chew house. On the Limekiln road 
the First Battalion Light Infantry was stationed at the northwest corner of 
Keyser's lane. The Queen's Rangers, a Tory corps of moderate numbers, was 
on the York road. The British main body was on Lucan's mill lane. The 
right wing was commanded by Generals Grant and Matthews. The left wing 
reached from the market house to the Schuylkill on School house lane, under 
General Knyphausen ; Generals Grey and Agnew were subordinate to him, as 
well as General Von Stirn and his Hessians, while the Chasseurs, mounted and 
on foot, under Col. Von Wurmbs, were in the same division of the army. The 
dismounted Chasseurs were at the Wissahickon, at Ridge road and the Schuyl- 
kill. In the first attack Wayne and Sullivan drove the English down Main 
street as far as tlie Green Tree Tavern, kept by the Mackinett family, now the 
residence of Dr. Alexis du Pont Smith. On a late visit there the doctor in- 



GERMANTOWN. 199 

formed me that tradition was clear that this house was reached. The rear of 
their force was however detained at the Chew house. General Greene's divi- 
sion, with Muhlenberg's, and Scott's, and McDougall's brigades, which com- 
posed Stephen's division, added to it, marched down Limekiln road and the 
adjacent fields and struck the British infantry at Keyser's lane, attacked and 
routed them. The veteran local historian, Thomas Westeott, in an interesting 
article in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, March 4, 1885, from which I have 
drawn the position of the British troops, shows that the new National Soldiers' 
Cemetery is on a spot where a part of tliis spirited contest occurred.. Col. 
George Matthews, of Vii;ginia, followed by Col. Walter Stewart, of the 13th 
Pennsylvania Eegiment, pressed on. Another British force was met at Lucan's 
mill and Col. Stewart routed them, and captured a small redoubt, but he 
found that Matthews had been overpowered and had surrendered ; and so was 
obliged to turn and flee. Stephens was drawn from the work assigned him in 
Washington's plan by hearing the firing at the Chew house and started toward 
it. Maxwell's brigade there, in the fog, mistook his men for those of the 
enemy and fired into them. The fire was returned, and thus the Americans 
ignorantly fought each other. Gen. Wayne wrote his wife that this blunder 
caused a retreat of nearly two miles when the Americans were in possession 
of the British encampment. 

When Greene had routed the British on their right wing he strove to enter the 
village, expecting help from Armstrong, Smallwood and Forman, but in this 
he was disappointed. Armstrong did not attack the German Chasseurs, and 
Smallwood and Forman arrived too late to aid Greene. The British were struck 
by the bravery of the Americans, and, ignorant of their numbers, were about 
to retreat, but Generals Grey and Knyphausen marched to the help of the 
centre of the army, which was pressed by the Americans. The contest in this 
battle was a severe one and the victory was almost in thehandsoftheAmericans. 
The dense fog had much to do with the defeat. The sun, which had scarcely 
showed itself in the morning, soon hid its face from the shocking spectacle, and 
a fioet well called the fog " the Shroud of Death," for it cost the death of these 
brave men. Washington wrote his chagrin to Congress, and attributed the loss 
of the battle to the fog. Col. Forrest stated that when a drummer beat a parley 
at Chew's house, the Americans made a mistake and thought their comrade was 
sounding for a retreat, and hence a panic arose and helped lose the day. It. had 
been ordered that each American soldier and officer should wear a piece of 
white paper in his cap. If this was done it did not distinguish friend from foe 
in the dense fog. The American army had a rough country to pass over in 
making an advance on the enemy, and fences and stone walls and marshes 
added to the difficulty. Still the stone wall at EUwood Johnson's place served 
as a breastwork, and may remind us of Stonewall Jackson's tactics. 

I have found Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, as well as his Historjr 
of the United States, useful in this review. He visited the Chew House on 
November 1, A. D. 1848, and All Saint's Day was a proper one on which to 



200 GERMANTOWN. 

behold a scene consecrated by the blood of patriots. The picturesque features 
of the strongly built Germantown houses strike him. He calls Chew's house 
" the most noted and attractive relic of the Revolution now in Germantown." 
He says, as does Watson, that four or five carpenters were employed a whole 
winter in repairing the house. Watson adds that the front door was full of 
shot holes, and that it was removed and preserved. The cannon which assailed 
the house were on the grounds of Mrs. Norton Johnson, but the present man- 
sion was not then built. When Watson wrote it was known as John Johnson's 
house. In the description of the Misses Johnson's house at Washington Lane 
and Main street, it should have been noted that the upper corner yet displays 
the mark of a cannon ball. John Johnson's house is described in a previous 
article of this series, under its name " Upsal." At the time that Lossing 
visited the Chew house, which is called Cliveden, the widow of a son of Chief 
Justice Chew gave him the needed information. 

Washington computed the American loss at the Battle of Germantown at 
about 1000 killed, wounded and missing. Lossing places the English loss in 
killed at 100. General Howe reported officially that 535 were killed, wounded 
and missing. Gordon says that a British manuscript, left at Germantown 
showed the English loss to be about 800 killed. General James Agnew was 
slain as he rode by the Mennonite grave yard by some one from behind the wall. 
He was carried to the Wister mansion, opposite Queen street, his headquarters, 
where his blood still stains the floor. Lieutenant Colonel Bird was an other 
distinguished English officer who was killed. Watson had a monumental 
stone placed over the remains of Agnew and Bird in the Lower Burying ground, 
and another over Captain Turner, of North Carolina, and Major Irvine, and six 
American soldiers in the Upper Burying ground. Thus did this kindly man 
show honor to bravery on both sides, after years had destroyed the rancor of 
contest ; as the blue and gray are now learning, in this land, to give the due 
meed to bravery, on whichever side it was exhibited. General Nash, of North 
Carolina, and Major Sherburne, Major White, aids to General Sullivan, were 
also among the slain on the American side. Congress voted thanks to Wash- 
ington for his attack on the enemy, and to the officers and men for their 
" brave exertions." The farmers who had heard the feet of the passing host 
as they went to battle on the night of the 3d of October, on the 4th saw the 
American army retreating to the Skippack. From this point Washington 
soon' returned with his command to White Marsh, but after a short stay tliere 
he made his winter encampment at Valley Forge, and that fearful winter of 
pain and trouble has ever left its impression on the mind of Americans. 
When Washington afterward visited that spot how many sad memories must 
have filled his mind, as well as brighter thoughts of hope for a country bought 
with blood, as he looked on the scene of former misery. 

Dr. Alfred C. Lambdin gave an address at the 100th anniversary of the 
Battle of Germantown, which has been of assistance to the writer of this article. 
It appeared in the Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. I, p. 368, etc. The 



GERMANTOWN. 201 

Doctor had the valuable aid of the officers of the Historical Society of Penn- 
sylvania, and had access to important documents at the Rooms. He follows 
Sullivan through the fog and the smoke of the artillery to Washington Lane, 
and Wayne to the Widow Mackinett's Green Tree Tavern. We will follow his 
leading on a path no longer dangerous. The New Jersej^ regiments lost 46 
officers and men. They belonged to Maxwell's brigade. Chevalier Duplessis 
and John Laurens are to be added to the volunteers I have named as being 
ready to set fire to the Chew house. We find Chief Justice Marshall an officer 
in Woolford's brigade. I once walked by this great man's house in Richmond, 
Va., in company with Dr Haight, of Trinity Church, New York, and he lifted 
his hat in token of regard for the memory of the good man, and thus should 
we ever remember one who was so useful in his judicial position, and also a 
faitliful upholder of the Christian faith. 

Col. Von Wurmb, commanding the Hessian Yagers, is said to have expected 
the attack and to have kept a watch on the eventful night " in the horrenduous 
hills of the Wissahickon." Cornwallis reached Germantown from Philadel- 
phia after the Americans had been driven from the town, and joined Grey 
in their pursuit. General Howe said that he pursued the enemy four or five 
miles. Gen. Greene's retreat was difficult and with some loss. Gen. Knox 
observed that the battle lasted two hours and forty minutes. It was at the 
doors of the people, and in their gardens and orchards and fields. When the 
fog and smoke cleared away the old Germantowners saw a scene of destruction. 
Watson says that hundreds from Philadelphia visited the place the day after 
the battle. — [^Annals, Vol. H, p. 66.] The Friends sent a deputation to protest 
against war to the Commander of each arm}'. Washington was visited on 
October 7th. 

The American General Nash was attended by Dr. Craik, who was Washing- 
ton's own physician and the father of the late celebrated Rev. Dr. Craik, of 
Louisville, Kentuck}^ The General was buried at Kulpsville. Major Wither- 
spoon, the beloved son of Parson Witherspoon, of Princeton, was slain in this 
battle. The Haines house was made a field hospital. The boards stained with 
blood on the first floor were afterwards taken up and replaced in a floor in the 
upper story. The wounded were afterwards carried to hospitals in the citj'. 
Major Witherspoon was buried in front of Phillip Weaver's house near 
Beggarstown. 

The English retired from Germantown to the city soon after this battle. 
While they themselves fought bravely, they had found that the Americans were 
of the same stock and were not to be despised. The brave Washington 
endangered himself, though the Americans entreated him not to do so. His 
sublime character shone out in victory or defeat, in its patience, courage, 
dignity and trust in God. When this noble man resorted in prayer to the 
" God of battles " he was indeed " strong in the Lord of hosts." 

I find in Christopher Marshall's Journal a statement (p. 132) that on Sep- 
tember 25th a number of Tories, said to amount to four or five hundred. 



202 GERMANTOWN. 

paraded Germantown and triumphed all night through the streets, seizing and 
sending prisoners those who were thought friends to the " Fi-ee States of 
America." We can see in this Journal the same kinds of rumors and excite- 
ments as occurred in the time of the Southern war. On October 22d, 1777, 
Marshall notes that Thirty English and five Hessian prisoners, taken in a 
skirmish in Germantown, were brought to the city via Reading and lodged in 
jail ; also, three light-horse and four yagers, who were out on a scout, and were 
taken and confined with the other prisoners. At one time cannonading is 
heard in the distance. When Marshall is at Lancaster, on November 6th, he 
notes that Mary Brown's son came the night before from Germantown. He 
had seen his mother and Mrs. Owen there, who had gone out 'from the city on 
parole to procure provisions, as they were dear in the city. Mrs. Owen told 
him to tell Mr. Marshall that the enemy had destroyed the fence around his 
garden, at his country seiat, .and put soldiers into his house in town as well as 
his house in the country. 

In Edward J. Lowell's Hessians in the Revolutionary War, a fact of interest 
appears. It is stated that the Hessians were warned of their approaching 
danger by a man whose property Captain Ewald, of their body, had protected 
on one occasion, though he was not a Tory. In glancing over this volume we 
may see how the word Wissahickon looks in the German language. Here it is : 
" Vishigging." The Indian name is prettier. 

In retreating to the Skippack, Washington made use of churches and other 
public buildings as hospitals, between Perkiomen and Reading, beyond his 
camp. Col. Pickering's letter in Theo. W. Bean's "Washington at Valley 
Forge " is useful in the details it gives concerning our subject. 

A number of Hessians were buried in a trench at the Upper Burying 
Ground. Some American sharpshooters attacked the burying party, but were 
driven to the Wissahickon by the British cavalry. 

Hessian and English soldiers were both fed at the same houses. The wounded 
Americans were conveyed by their fellow soldiers as far as the western part of 
Moreland, and Upper Dublin, and even against the will of the people, were left 
in their houses. 

In considering the causey of the loss of this noted battle, we see several 
events combined. The fog, failure of Washington's men to come together at 
the neighborhood of the market house, as the plan required, the detention at 
Chew's house, and the panic and attack of American troops on each other. 
Still Gen. Wilkinson, as is seen in the Appendix of Watson's 2d volume, 
thought it a kind dispensation of Providence that the battle was lost, as 
he believed that if the Americans had gone on to the city at that time they 
would have been overpowered by Howe. History is " God's footsteps marching 
through time;" so let us believe that all was for the best, and that, as the 
infant must use its muscles to become strong, so the infant nation may have 
needed exercise to develop its powers. War has its amusing side. Goodrich's 
History says that in the battle the cue of Maj. Burnet, the aid-de-camp of Gen. 



GERMANTOWN.- 203 

Greene was shot ofif. His general told him to dismount and get it, which he 
did. Soon a shot took a powdered curl from the head of the General, while 
the British were in hot pursuit; the major advised him to dismount and secure 
it, which the General would not do. 

If the reader would follow an exuberant fancy, in reviewing this history, let 
him read George Lippard's " Battle of Germantown." There he will see, as in 
a picture, the crimson and green uniforms of the English soldiers. He will 
behold the quiet town going to its rest the night before the battle, little think- 
ing of the awfulness of the coming morning, when the houses should be closed 
in the great danger, and the inhabitants would hide in the cellars, as the 
missiles of death were hurled through the air, while struggles went on in the 
streets of the astonished town. He narrates the burial of American officers at 
the Mennonite graveyard at Towamensing, twenty-six miles from Philadelphia. 
He gives a tradition that Gen. Agnew had, a presentiment of his death, and 
another, that a kind Quaker was seen relieving the wounded in the thick of the 
fight at the Chew house, according to the well-known benevolence of his body, 
and that the name of this well-doer was unknown. For a quieter work of 
imagination see "The Quaker Soldier," by Judge J. Righter Jones. The 
representation of good Mrs. Jacob Keyser, reading the Scriptures to the wounded 
American Colonel Lynnford, whom she is caring for, and the good effects of the 
simple piety of the Mennonites as shown in herself, her husband, and her 
pastor on the invalid's mind are well described, while the faithful colored 
servant of the Colonel gives amusing variety to the picture. Dr. Bensell is 
introduced as the Colonel's physician. The late Rev. John Rodney's residence 
is the house mentioned as the abode of the Keysers. 

Lord Stirling, who was thought by many the rightful heir to a Scotch title, 
and the brave Pulaski, who loved a foreign nation in its trouble must not be 
forgotten as we number the worthies of Germantown. We have the letter 
which announced Agnew's death : How many such missives carried sad news 
to homes on both sides of the Atlantic. Let us pray for the time when 

" They hang ihe trumpet in the hall, 
And study war no more.'* 

The Centennial of the battle was observed as the following programme shows. 
The Germantown Telegraph of the next day, contained valuable Revolu- 
tionary information. I think the account of the fireworks was in the German- 
town Guide. 




1777. ^^^^^WT^^ 1877. 



OCTOBER FOURTH. 

: : 

Centennial Celebration, Battle of Germantown. . 

: o: 

Order of Exercises: 
/. Salute of 100 Guns at sunrise, by the Keystone Battery, N. G., of Pa. Lieut. 
James 0. Winchester, commanding — on the Battle Ground. 



204 GERMANTOWN. 

II. 100 strokes on the Bell at 9 o'clock a. m., by Mr. W. F. Gamble. Clock will 
be set in motion by Mr. G. Wilbur Russell. 

AT 12 o'clock, noon. 

III. Parade as per orders of General Louis Wagner, Chief Marshal. 

IV. Mass Meeting of Citizens at Town Hall, at 2 o'clock, P. M. 

1. Introductory Remarks, - bj' Washington Pastorius, Esq., President. 

2. Prayer, - - Rev. C. W. Schaeffer, D. D. 

3. Historical Address, - Dr. A. C. Lambdin. 

4. Oration, - Hon. M. Russell Thayer. 

•5. Presentation of Clock and Bell, - - Thomas A. Gummey, Esq, 

on behalf of the Committee. 

0. Reception of Clock and Bell, - - - Mr. Norton Johnson, 

for the Citizens of Germantown. 

7. Benediction, Rev. Jacob Helffenstein, D. D. 

The exercises of the meeting will be interspersed with Music by McClurg's Band. 

V. Display of Fireworks by Professor Samuel Jackson, at the corner of Coulter 
street and Wayne avenue. 

HEADQUARTERS 

Committee of Arrangements 



-: o;- 



dBntennial delebi'ation of the Battle of IJei'niantGWn. 



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General Orders, \ 

^^ 2 j Germantovm, Pa., Sept. 26, 1877. 

I. General Louis Wagner having been appointed Chief Marshal of the 
parade to be held on Thursday, October 4, 1877, hereby assumes command. 

II. Major Galloway C. Morris is appointed Chief of Staff, and the 
following gentlemen as Aides de Camp : 

Col. Henry W. Gray, Col. Robert L. Orr, Col. Emlen Carpenter, 

Maj. Albert J. Rorer, Capt. Isaac R. Martindell, Capt. Oscar Bolton, 
Lieut. Henry D. Hirst, Lieut. Howard A. Buzby, • William Gladding, 
Edward T. Steel, Charles Weiss, John C. Miller, 

William H. McCallum, Warren Ingersoll, Samuel Loeb, 

Irving McCallum, Robert S. Smith, Reed A. Williams, Jr. 

Additional appointments will be announced in future orders. 

III. The column will form in three Divisions. The first Division will 
consist of the First Division, National Guard of Pennsylvania, Girard College 
Cadet Corps, and other militarj' organizations under command of Major Gen- 
eral Rabert M. Brinton, and of the National, State and Municipal authorities, 
in carriages. 



GERMANTOWN. 205 

The second Division will consist of the Grand Army of the Republic and the 
organized secret" civic societies in regalia, with Col. Daniel W. Bussinger, as 
Marshal. 

The third Division will consist of citizens mounted, delegations from the 
manufacturing establishments of the ward, with such teams as they may need 
to display the processes of their establishments, the delegation of German 
citizens, other citizens on foot and in carriages, with Ellicott Fisher, Esq., as 
Marshal. 

IV. Tlie line will form at 11.30 a. m., on the lower side of Chelten avenue, 
the right of the First Division resting on the Rail Road Depot, and its left 
extending if necessarj% south on Main street. The right of the second Division 
will rest on Main street, extending if necessary, south on Green street. The 
right of the third Division will rest on Green street, extending if necessary, 
south on Wayne street. 

The column will move at 12 m. precisely over the following route : Counter- 
march on Chelten avenue to Wayne, Wayne to Coulter, Coulter to Green, 
Green to Manheim, Manheim to Main, Main to East Walnut lane, East Walnut 
lane to Morton, Morton to Cliveden or Battle Ground, Cliveden to Main, Main 
to Johnson, .Johnson to Adams, Adams to Tulpohocken, Tulpohocken to Main, 
Main to Towii Hall, to be reviewed by General .John F. Hartranft, Governor of 
Pennsylvania, and the civil authorities, and there dismiss. 

Property owners and residents on the route of parade are requested to clear 
the streets in front of their respective properties, of all obstructions, and all 
citizens are requested to close their places of business and to decorate their houses. 

V. The Head Quarters of the Chief Marshal will be at No. 341 Walnut 
street, Philadelphia, during business hours, and at the Town Hall, German- 
town, at 8 p. m. daily, until the day of parade. 

VI. Organizations and societies desiring to participate in the parade will 
report the name of their organization, their probable strength, &c., not later 
than 8 p. m., on Tuesday, October 2, 1877. 

By order of 

• LOUIS WAGNER. 

Chief Marshall. 
GALLOWAY C. MORRIS, 

Chief of Staff. 

j Headquarters Centennial Celebration, 
( Battle of Germantown. 

' ^ „ ' - Germantoiim, Oct. 2nd, 1877. 

No. 2. J 

I. The Head quarters of the Chief Marshal, on October 4th, will be at No. 
184 East Chelten Avenue. Marshals of Divisions and Aides de Camp will 
report for duty properly mounted and equipped, at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



206 GERMANTOWN. 

II. The cQlumn will move at 12 m., precisely, ia the following order : 

1. Reserve Corps, City Police, Lieut. C. D. Crout, Commanding. 

2. Gen'l Louis Wagner, Chief Marshal and Staff. 

3. FIRST DIVISION, commanded by Maj. C. W. Karsner, 6th Regt.. 
N. G. Pa. 

Keystone Battery, Capt. S. B. Poulterer, Commanding. 
Detachment of 6th Regt. N. G. Pa., Capt. T. B. Chadwick, Commanding. 
Battalion, under command of Capt. John W. Ryan, consisting of State 
Fencibles, N. G. Pa., 1st Lieut. E. A. Packer, Commanding, and the Girard 
College Cadet Corps. 

Company A, Capt. Rob't Hayward. 
" B, " John D. Thomas. 
■ " C, 1st Lieut. W. S. Burr. 
" D, Capt. James Anderson. 
With Cadet Corps Band under Thomas Dobson, Bandmaster. 
" Continental " Company, of Princeton, N. G. New Jersey, Capt. Aaron L.. 
Green, Commanding. 

Company H 3rd Regiment, N. G. of Pa., Capt. Thomas Furey, Com^ 
manding. 

Gray Invincibles, Capt. A. Oscar Jones, Commanding. 
Artillery Corps, Washington Grays, N. G. Pa., Capt. W. C. Zane, Command- 
ing as escort to His Excellency, John F. Hartranft, Governor of Pennsylvania,, 
accompanied by his Staff, in carriages. 

Hon. W. S. Stokley, Mayor of Philadelphia, and State and Municipal 
Authorities in carriages. 

4. SECOND DIVISION, Col. Daniel W. Bussinger, Marshal, John D.. 
Bowen, Chief of Staff. Aids : 

George Trumbore, Elwood Bevans, Michael Oatis, 

Acis Jenkinson, George Trout, Charles Mansfield, 

William F. Keyser, Edward Paramore, Joseph Channon, 
Edward Insiuger, James Shields, J. B. Goslin. 

The several Societies forming this Division will be in line (avoiding Main 
street) by 11.80 a. m. Aids will be detailed to conduct the Societies ^o their- 
position as soon as thej' arrive. 

The Headquarters of this Division will be at Parker's Hall, corner of Main, 
and Price streets. 

Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Pennsylvania. 
S. Irvin Givin, Post 5, Department Commander. 
J. M. Vanderslice, Post 2, Ass't Adjt. Gen'l. 
David T. Davies, Post 24, Ass't Quartermaster Gen'l. 
A. J. Hamilton, Post 8, Aide de Camp. 
W. J. Mackey, Post 8, Council of Administration. 
W. J. Kramer, Post 46, Council of Administration. 
John Taylor, Post 51, Council of Administration. 



GERMANTOWN. 



207 






Post. No. 1. Geo. W. Devinney, Post Commander. 

" " 2. Chas F. Kennedy, 

" " 5. Andrew Jackson, 

" " 6. C. Bettenhauser, " 

" " 7. Jacob F. Simon, 

" 8. Wm. Letourneau, " 

" " 10. George W. Young, 
• " " 12. Thomas Wyatt, Jr., 

" " 14. W. J. Caskey, 

" " 46. J. A. Mather, 

" " 51. Geo. W. Lenoir, 

" " 55. Jno. B. Major, 

" " 63. Wm. H. Rightly, 

" " 71. Lewis R. Robinson, 

" " 77. H. J. Stager, 

" " 94. John R. Bignell 

Logan Lodge, Good Fellows, Tobias Sibel, 

Germantown Lodge, K. P., Charles D. Gentry, 



Marshal. 



Herman Lodge, Uniform Knights, 

Seminole Tribe, Red Men, and kindred Socie- 
ties from Philadelphia, 

Mt. Airy Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., 

Walker Lodge, 1. 0. 0. F., 

Mt. Pleasant Encampment, I. 0. 0. F., 

Phila. Battalion of Patriarchs, I. 0. 0. F., 

Germantown Lodge, A. P. A., 

Reliance Council, 0. U. A. M., 

Washington Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M. 

State Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M. 

St. Vincent de Paul Beneficial Society, and 
kindred Societies of Philadelphia, 

St. Vincent de Paul T. A. B., - 

Star of Promise Division, S. of T., 

Cadets of Temperance, 

Independent Mounted Club. 

5. THIRD DIVISION, Ellicott Fisher, 

Butler, Chief of Staff. Aids : 



Geo. W. Carpenter, 
Harry Thurman, 
Wm. Hirst, Jr., 
Stephens Crothers, 
Justice Coxe, Jr., 
Richard Hume, 



Conyers Button, 
•John Ax ford, 
Daniel Bray, M. D., 
0. M. Boyer, 
F. S. Stallman, 
Gillieum Aertson, 



Harry Reif, Marshal. 

Robert Howat, " 

James Wine, " 
William Ployd, 

Jacob Fisher, " 
J. B. Nicholson, 
John Ware, • " 

George W. Baxter, " 

Lewis Harmer, " 
C. M. Berry, 

Sullivan, 

Patrick Lamb, " 

John Harleigh, " 

Chas. Evans, " 

Wm. H. Chandler, 

Esq., Marshal, Major E. H. 

John Lund, 
Hamilton Boyer, 
James Logan Fisher, 
Harry Moore, 
H. H. Kingston. 



208 GERMANTOWN. 

This Divison will form as follows : 

1. Hosiery Mills, Conyers Button, Marshal. — Dr. Mahlon M. Walker, 
Aid. 

2. Workingmen's Club, J. Topliff Johnson, Marshal. 

3. D. Pooley & Co., Limited. 

4. Schomacker's Piano Manufacturing Co., Harry C. Schomacker, 
Marshal. 

5. Tho Old Volunteer Fire Department, Edw. E,. Whiteman, Marshal. 
With engine 110 years old and a first-class Steam Fire Engine, of the 
present day. 

6. German societies, Fred'k May, Marshal. 

7. C. C. Baker, Pioneer Corps, Bridesburg, Capt. Henry. 

8. Waterhouse, Printer, wagon drawn by four horses containing 
printing press. 

9. Orphans Home of Germantown, Chas. F. Kuhnle, Superintendent. 

10. Midvale Steel works, Nicetown, G. Aertson, Superintendent. 

11. Snuffers, Indians, Geo. W. Wolfe, Marshal. 

12. Agricultural Department, J. Paramore. 

13. Peerless Brick Co., of Nicetown. 

14. Henry Smitli, Printer, wagon and presses. 

15. Watchmaker's Association, wagon drawn by two horses. 

16. Citizens on foot. 

17. Citizens in carriages. 

18. Citizens Mounted. 

III. While countermarching on Chelten avenue, Division Marshals will see 
that no bands play while moving east; the column taking time from bands 
Inarching west. 

IV. In addition to the Aides de Camp announced by General Orders, No. 
1, the following are hereby appointed : 

Col. Charles A. Newhall, Saml. Heebner, 

Col. Sylvester BonnafFon, Jr., George B. Edwards, 

Col. T. F. Betton Tapper, George Willing, 

Maj. W. S. Darling, . Clias A. Graver, 

Maj. W. F. Muller, M. D., Wm. H. H. Cline, 

Capt. Robt. Johnstone, Henry B. Bruner, 

Lieut. J. George Henvis, Wm. H. Roop, M. D., 

Thos. H. Shoemaker, Sidney L. Wright, 

Wm. H. Cope, Wm. H. Schively, 

Thomas Carroll, Theodore Ashmead. 
S. Worthington A^^'illiams. 

Lieut. Chris. Shortwell, Edwin A. Woolston, Maurice A. Hoyt, 

John Bardsley, Chas. B. Edwards, Edward T. Johnson, 

Andrew Zell, Albanus C. Logan, James Neiler, 



GERMANTOWN. 



209 



James Kating, 
Chas. Millman, Jr., 
Robt. Barr, 
Owen McGinnis, 
John Riley, 
Edw. D. Page, 
E. M. Snodgrass, 
Robt. Dunmore, 
Jacob C. Bockius, 
James F. Young, 

V. At 4 o'clock, p. m., the battalion of State Fencibles, N. G. Pa., and the 
Corps of Cadets, Girard College, under command of Capt. J. W. Ryan, will hold 
a dress parade on Chelten avenue, between Main and Green streets. 

By order of 

LOUIS WAGNER, 
GALLOWAY C' MORRIS, Chief Marshal. 

Chief of Staff. 



Clement N. Williams, 
Jos. W. .Johnson, 
Alex'r Kinnier, 
Chas. Millman, 
Isaac Russell, 
George ShoUer, 
Sylvester Banner, 
William Hinkle, 
Christian Jordan, 



M. Fisher Wright, 
W. H. Livezey, 
Wm. Morrell, 
Henry Buckner, 
Wm. Smith, 
George Crowder, 
Thos. McCafferty, 
Morris P. Livezey, 
C. H. Royal. 



COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.— James R. Gates, Chairman 

Charles H. Spencer, Gen'l Louis Wagner, Gen'l James Starr, 

Robert Boiling, M. D., 
C. Willing Littell, 
Charles W. Henry, 



Daniel L. Keyser, 
Isaac R. Martindell, 
Norton Johnson, 



John K. Gamble, 
Col. Henry W. Gray, 
Wm. H. Emhardt, Sec. 



COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.— Jabez Gates, Chairman. 



Benjamin Allen, 
Abraham Engard, 
Spencer Roberts, 
W. Wynne Wister, 
Col. e" H. Butler, 
L. P. Thompson, 
E. H. Howell, 
John Shingle, 
William Brockie, 
Charles L. Eberle, 



James S. Young, 
Howard A. Buzby, 
John T. Roberts, 
Jr., -John J. Kenney, 
Charles Weiss, 
W. A. Ulmer, 
Edward Keyser, 
George W. Russell, 
Charles W. Henrv, 



James Neilor, 
Washington F. Gamble, 
Robert Thomas, 
Daniel Freas, 
George Heft, 
Ellwood Johnson, 
J. C. Channon, 
Daniel L. Keyser, 
Charles W. Otto, Treas. 



COMMITTEE ON CLOCK AND BELL. 



Edwin R. Cope, Pres't. 
Charles Spencer, Treas. 
Charles W. Henry, Sec. 
Thomas A. Gummey, 
George L. A.shmead, 



C. Willing Littell, 
James R. Gates, 
Jabez Gates, 
Abraham Engard, 
Thomas Hobson, 



John T. Roberts, 
Charles L. Eberle, 
EUiston P. Morris, 
Charles Williams, 
Lucius P. Thompson. 



210 • GERMANTOWN. 

BUILDING COMMITTEE. 

Thomas A. Gummejs Ch. George W. Russell, Enoch Taylor. 

Edwin R. Cope, Jesse Lightfoot, 

It should be added that Thos. A. Gummej'', Edwin R. Cope, Charles Spencet, 
T. Charlton Henry, Enoch Taylor and Jabez Gates were appointed a committee 
to prepare the steeple on the City Hall to hold the bell and the clock made by 
Lukens, of Montgomery County, which were to be moved from the State 
House to Germantown, to fit the Centennial Celebration. The clock was 
removed in 1876. It was running on Oct. 4th, A. D. 1878. Henry Seybert had 
given a new clock. The bell was the second one in the history of the State 
House, and was cast in Philadelphia. It is said to contain 1000 Spanish 
dollars which give it its fine clear tone. The Swiss bell-ringers are said to have 
pronounced it the finest toned bell they had heard in this country. Thos. A. 
Gummey who obtained the bell from Councils presented the bell to the people 
of Germantown in a speech and Norton Johnson accepted it in behalf of the 
people. Between two and three thousand dollars were spent by Germantowners 
in building the new steeple. 

" The largest crowd of persons that ever gatliered together at night in German- 
town, was doubtless that attracted to witness the grand pyrotechnic display on 
Garret's lot, bounded by Wayne, Coulter, Linden and Knox streets, in the 
lower part of the town, last SaturdaJ^ It is impossible to more than approx- 
imate numbers on such occasions, but to say that from 5000 to 8000 men, 
women and children were present is no exaggeration. This exhibition, in con- 
sequence of its postponement on account of the weather on the day of the 
celebration, was regarded as a part of the unfinished programme of that 
occasion, and it reallj'^ looked as if the people had determined to go through 
the whole thing if it took them a half week to finish their patriotic resolves; 
Never was a night more favorable for a display of fireworks ; never an exhibi- 
tion of the pyric art received with greater satisfaction and delight. The pieces 
prepared by Professor Jackson were simply grand. The programme opened 
by illuminating the grounds with red and green colored lights. Then followed 
a flight of some six dozen rockets. Next the Star of Washington, a beautiful 
piece with crimson centre amidst scrolls of fire. A fairy magic circle was then 
given, inclosing the silver serpent's dance, a novel and skillfully contrived 
affair. The Liberty Tree, composed of gold and silver coruscating fires, with 
rotating centre of emerald and ruby, gave great satisfaction. The Soldier's 
Glory, flaming with colors and coruscations of every hue was a fitting compan- 
ion of the former. A bouquet of pyric roses, in fret-work of scintillating corusca- 
tions; then a Battery of Bombshells, which gave a fair idea of the terrors of 
war. The Pyric Gem of rubies and emeralds was followed by the Son of 
Freedom, with coruscating wreaths of jessamine fire and a. Harlequinade of 
shells, a trio of noble pieces. A Cascade of Fire, representing fallen water, was 
a grand and successful design. But last, and better than all the others, was 
the Grand Battle Piece, beginning with a fierce engagement, and as it pro- 



GERMANTOWN. 211 

^I'essed, in silver letters of fire the word ' Germantown ' appeared in a curved 
line, with ' 1777 — Oct. 4 — 1877 ' underneath, while the American flag grace- 
fully waved aloft in the national colors, in fierj' jets, and revolving globes on 
either side were made to play eccentric movements. During the exhibition of 
the closing scene mortars were brought into requisition, shells filled the air, 
telling the thousands of spectators that ' Our flag was still there,' and the 
heavens above seemed full of every grand and terrible device the pyric art 
could suggest. The admiration and enthusiasm of the great crowd broke out 
in clapping of hands and appreciative compliments to Prof Jackson and the 
Committee of Ari-angements, to whom they were indebted for the sublime spec- 
tacle presented. On this occasion $570 worth of fireworks was displayed by the 
great American Pyrotechnist, and it were unjust to his patriotism and liberality 
to suppress the fact, that half the fireworks were contributed bj' him towards 
making the Centennial Celebration of the Battle of Germantown the great 
success it proved to be, in spite of the angry elements." 

Aubrej^ H. Smith, Esq., writes me that one of the guns in the Soldiers' 
Monument, at Germantown, is a cannon from " the British frigate, Augusta " 
which was burned and exploded in the Delaware river, a few miles above 
Tinicum. Several of the large guns 6f this ship were recovered by dredgers 
who were deepening the channel. 

When we try to represent to ourselves the condition of things at the Battle 
of Germantown, we must re^nember that the town presented a v«ry different 
appearance from the crowded suburb of to-day. " Venable's History of the 
United States " well calls the ancient town " a straggling village near Phila- 
delphia." Many incidents were kept in memory long after the battle. The 
barn, with its four stone corners, on Rev. Peter Keyser's place (now Ellwood 
Johnson's), was the scene of a tragedy. A bullet passed through the wood- 
work of this barn and struck an officer, who was carried to the rear of the 
bark-shed of the tannery, where he died near an apple tree which is now gone. 

Germantown traditions are of more than usual value, because some of the 
old families still live in the houses pf their great ancestors, and the spots of his- 
torical interest have been pointed out to present residents, we may well sup- 
pose, by those that are now gone to the great majority of the silent dead. The 
date in a stone in the peak of the roof at the house of the Misses Johnson, 
next below Ellwood Johnson's, is 1768. The present owners are lineal de- 
scendants of the first occupants. This is also the case with regard to the house 
of Mrs. Norton Johnson and that of Miss Haines. 

In John Miller's diary, given by Watson, we find that Mt. Airy had some 
interest after the Battle of Germantown. On June 10, 1778, the English came 
out " by. diff"erent routes and joined forces at Allen's lane (now Mt. Airy) and 
returned before nine o'clock in the morning, effecting nothing but the plun- 
dering of gardens, etc. The English commissioners came up strongly guarded 
as far as Chew's house and returned just after the above force." 



212 GERMANTOWN. 

" June 13. The army marched up for the last time and got as far "as Mt. Airy. 
They returned in two hours." • 

" June 16 and 17. They are embarking and making all preparations for a 
departure from Philadelphia, and on the 18th, the Americans again took posses- 
sion of the city. Laus Deo ! " The praise to God naturally rises from a heart 
worn and weary with this long war. 

The diary states that in January of 78, in severely cold weather, the English 
army went into winter quarters, but often sent foraging parties out to rob the 
surrounding country, and to guard the country people bringing theta prod- 
uce on market days. 

On May 19, a large British force marched up the Old York road, and the 
next day a second party passed through Germantown, where they had a 
skirmish. They returned " in some haste," bearing dead and wounded in 
wagons. " The Indians killed seven British horsemen on the banks of the 
Schuylkill." 

" May 28. A large detachment of the enemy came up and returned, with- 
out permission to do any harm." 

"June 3. The British army came up and went through the town by break 
of day and returned by. nine o'clock, A'. M. They rob gardens and steal fowls 
as they pass along." 

" June 6. They came up again in force and returned by nine o'clock, A. M., 
having with them a few wounded in a skirmish." 

As Watson observes, this account says " more of the predatory aggressions 
of the enemy than was generally complained of by others." 

Watson gives an interesting fact concerning the battle of Germantown in 
stating tlie following: "The daughter of Benjamin Marshal, Esq., at whose 
house General Washington stopped after the battle, told me he reached there 
in the evening and would only take a dish of tea, and, pulling out the half 
of a biscuit, assured the family the other half was all the food he had taken 
since the preceding day." 

Watson takes us far beyond the date of the Battle of Germantown in his 
notice of Anthony Johnson, who died in 1823, at the age of seventy-eight. 
When he was a boy Gliew's ground was a wood, and he saw a large bear in 
the daytime come from this wood and cross the road. The battle showed 
a fiercer strife than occurred among the animals in tliose days of early wildness. 
Watson gives a touching reminiscence of the battle in the visit of the Virginia 
captain, George Blackmore, to the battlefield where he had fought by the side 
of his brother, who was killed and left near a springhouse at Duval's fish pond. 
He went with the annalist " o'er the tented field to book the dead," and to seek 
the mournful and fatal spot. Watson gave him a battered bullet from Chew's 
door, which he said " he should incase in silver and hang to his watch chain 
and bequeath to his heirs." Jacob Keyser buried the captain's brother with 
four other soldiers in one grave. The annalist adds: "Alas, poor undistin- 



GERMANTOWN. 213 

guished, yet meritorious sufferers for their country ! " The following letter to 
Mr. Ward is interesting : 

" I met, some time since, Mr. John Bayne, who was born and resided on the 
old family homestead on Mill street, near Cliew, who related to me the follow- 
ing interesting incident of the Battle of Germantown : 'Col. Thomas Forrest 
was stationed in the field east of Kelley's dam (now northwest corner of Chew 
and Chelten avenues) when he observed a company of Hessians approaching. 
He ordered them to halt. Still they advanced and were in the act of mount- 
ing the fence dividing the field when he ordered his men to fire, killing them 
all. He had them buried on the spot, which is now marked by a clump of 
cherrj' trees, and has remained undisturbed up to the present time. It was 
alwaj^s known as the Forrest burial ground by the family. In speaking of the 
occurrence, Col. Forrest always made the remark that he only helped them the 
sooner over the fence.' " 

I add another MS. from Ward : 

" William Phillips, of Philadelphia, was bred a merchant in the counting- 
house of George Mead, grandfather of the late general of that name. As not 
unfrequently was the custom in that day, he went, in the year 1794, with two 
of his own vessels laden with flour to Bordeaux. His arrival there was at a 
time of such extreme scarcity that rations were issued to the inhabitants, and 
invitations to dinner contained a request that the guest should bring his own 
bread. This flour was sold at the almost famine price of fifty crowns the bar- 
rel. Investing the proceeds in brand}', he sailed to the free port of Guernsey 
to land it, and then repairing to London he sold the whole shipment to the 
Admiraltj', to his great advantage. Gratified with an unusual success young 
Phillips with other American youth, obtained court-dresses and went in sedan 
chairs to a drawing-room. The apartment, as he said, was something like our 
old St. Peter's Church, with galleries around it, from which one had a good 
view. Taking his place there he saw George the Third and his Queen seat 
themselves on the throne, and the princes and princesses, of whom there were 
very many, ranged along side. He remembered that the Prince of Wales and 
his brothers would take out their sisters — the elder brother with the elder sis- 
ter, and the next with the next and so on — and dance minuets in the stately 
manner which in that day was supposed to enforce, as it were, a propriety of 
demeanor not otherwise to be secured. What a Frenchman once said, "that 
the world is so small that one cannot get out of the way of people," was on 
this occasion realized by Phillips. Observing a person evidently of note enter, 
he inquired as to whom he was of a gentleman seated along side. " It is Mr. 
Pitt," was the reply. " And surely you must be a stranger to London not to 
recognize his person." " Yes," said Phillips, " I am an American, from Phila- 
delphia, visiting here." " Ah ! " said the strange gentleman, " I am acquainted 
in Philadelphia, I once passed some months there. I am Sir William Howe, 
and would be glad if you would tell me of my acquaintances there." He then 



214 ■ GERMANTOWN. 

inquired after a number by name, and particularly after the " Misses Chew of 
Germantown." 

Ward has another record as follows : 

" In 1777 one of the Keysers lived at or about the Rising Sun on the German- 
town road. He was absent, but had told his wife that the British would surely 
come there, and that she must do the best she could to protect their property. 
This she effected by laying in a stock of wine and other essentials and direct- 
ing the servants to pay every attention to the wants of the enemy. She then 
told one of her men that a pair of saddle-bags, filled with plate, was in a cer- 
tain part of the stable and directed him to place, during the dinner, her side- 
saddle with bags on the best horse he could find among those belonging to the 
officers. Thus prepared, she mounted and fled, and while saving her silver 
acquired a fine horse. The silver was buried and lay so long a time that when 
taken up it was quite black. It has been seen by a descendant. Dr. Martin 
Coryell, of Lambertville, N. J., but was lost in 1833 by a robbery. Mrs. 
Coryell and her sister, Mrs. John Anderson, are descendants also of Mr. Duy, 
from whom Duy's lane takes its name." 

Ward adds the following interesting note from Mr. Coryell, which is of in- 
terest, though it pertains to another subject. All of Ward's manuscripts 
deserve print. Would that some one would give them to the public. They 
are on various topics and refer to different sections of our country : 

" Ann Hilborn (daughter of Ichabod and Sarah Wilkinson) was the wife of 
William Hilborn, who moved to Stockport, Wayne countj^ with Samuel 
Preston, and subsequently to the River Susquehanna near the Great Bend. 
Their daughter married Joe Smith, the founder of Mormons. I have been at 
their house and saw the knoll of a hill in which Joe pretended to have dis- 
covered the Mormon Bible with gilt leaves and binding unsullied. Joe was a 
raftman of lumber, and so misbehaved toward his wife that she returned to 
her father's. But after he founded the Mormon sect and became surrounded 
by proselytes she returned to his embraces as one of his wives, and became a 

fanatic. 

(Signed) " LEWIS S. CORYELL." 

It is said that Jemima Wilkinson was of the same family with Ann 

Wilkinson. 

In reviewing ancient Germantown, the intensely German names of early 
settlers with the abundance of rough consonants in them is striking. Melchior 
Meng, Hans Milan and Arents Klinken are in point. 

Mention has been made of the condition of the old roads. Watson says 
(Vol. II, p. 54) : " The British army were covered with dust when they first 
passed through Germantown ; they were at other times kept very clean. Tlieir 
horses were heaA'y, clumsy and large. Horsemen of both armies would occa- 
sionall}'^ pass rattling through the streets of Germantown by night, and in the 
morning it was clearly designated of which side the horsemen were by the 







A 












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THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, MAIN AND UPSAL STREETS. 



. GERMANTOWN. 217 

English horse being so very much larger in the hoof. The Hessian cavalry 
were gay ponies, much decorated with leather trappings." 

I have seen an English horse shoe which indicated the vast size of the feet 
of some English horses, but in the present stone pavement of the old German- 
town road the inhabitants could hardly trace hoof-prints in the morning to 
tell what manner of steeds had rattled along in the night. 

As to properties, the following met my eye in an old law book. In the Laws 
of Pennsylvania, Vol. I, pp. 504-5, an act is recorded as passed February 18, 
1769, enabling the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia city and county to re- 
ceive in custody the ancient books and records of the corporation of German- 
town. 

In the Pennsylvania Evening Post, July 11, 1775, is the following adver- 
tisement : 

GERMANTOWN BLEACHFIELD. . 

John Hunter, at the above Bleachfield, continues to whiten all sorts of plain 
Linen, Yard wide and under, not exceeding a 900 Reed, at 4d. per Yard, 1000 
Reed, at 5d. per Yard, and all above at 6d. per Yard. Huckabacks and 
coarse Diapers at 4d. per Yard, fine Diapers at 5d. per yard. Twills, sheeting 
and plain Linen will be bleached for Merchants at 4d. per Yard, and dressed 
equal to any imported at 6d. per Piece. Cotton Thread whitened at lOd. per 
Pound, and Cotton Stockings at 4d. per Pair. 

Families who have Table Linens stained or discolored may have them 
cleaned at a moderate Price. 

Goods for said Bleachfield are received by the following Gentlemen in Phila- 
delphia, viz : Mr. Francis Gurney, Merchant, in Front street, below the Draw 
Bridge ; Mr. William Shute, Tallow Chandler, at the New Market ; Mr. John 
Green, Merchant, near the upper end of Second street, and by John Hunter, at 
the Bleachfield. At all which Places Receipts will be given. 

N. B. — The Advertiser presents his grateful Thanks to those who have 
favoured him with their custom ; and the general Satisfaction he has given, 
he hopes will recommend him to theirfuture Favours, and the Public in gene- 
ral ; and as he has, at a considerable Expence, erected a Bleachfield suitable 
for carrying on a very extensive Business, he hopes the Public will give him 
such Encouragement as to enable him to prosecute so useful a Branch of the 
Linen Manufactory. 

It is hoped that Mr. Hunter met with success. I have been told of some 
private persons in Germantown who followed this industry years ago, so it 
must be added to the Germantown manufactures. The New Market named 
ran from Second and Pine streets southward. The old Market of the city was 
at Second and Market streets — [Watson I, p. 301.] 



218 . GERMANTOWN. 

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The following sketch of the Second Baptist Church has been contributed by 
Rev. John Love, Jr., the pastor : 

" About twenty-seven years ago it became evident to careful observers that 
an inviting field for Christian work was presented in the vicinity of tbe present 
edifice of the Second Baptist Church. A Mission School was accordingly 
started in Franklin Hall, May 8, 1859. Seven teachers and sixteen scholars 
were present, and the little school was placed under the care of Mr. Joseph H. 
Harley, of the First Baptist Church. He was succeeded in a few months by 
Mr. William E. Burk. In the fall of 1861 Mr. C. H. Cummings was elected to 
the same office and has continued therein honored and beloved till the present 
time. Sabbath evening services were begun in the Hall, November 26, 1865, 
the pulpit being regularly supplied by city pastors and others. With the de- 
sign of establishing a regular Baptist Church, ^Messrs. George Nugent and 
C. H. Cummings, in the early part of 1866, purchased in their individual 
capacity a portion of the Chew estate — a section of the old battleground — con- 
taining considerably more than an acre. The corner-stone of the chapel was 
laid May 12, 1866, and dedication services were held December 4. In Octo- 
ber, 1871, Messrs. Nugent and Cummings made a proposition to the Church 
involving a surrender, on certain easy conditions, of all their claims against 
the Church, amounting to about §15,000, over and above their original sub- 
scriptions. Through this munificent offer the Church, after an existence of 
about five years, became possessed of a jsroperty free from all incumbrance 
which had cost about $40,000. The regular church organization was efi'ected 
in September, 1866, with a constituency of thirty-two members, which within 
a year was increased to ninety-two. The first pastor was Rev. W. P. Hellings 
(now of Milwaukee, Wis.) who was called in February', 1867. Terminating 
his service in 1869, he was succeeded in the spring of 1870 by Rev. James Lisk- 
During his successful and eventful pastorate of thirteen years, a commodious 
and attractive parsonage was built and the main edifice, an imposing struct- 
ure, was reared. Dr. Lisk resigned his charge in June, 1883, to accept a 
secretaryship. The present pastor. Rev. John Love, Jr., began his relations in 
November, 1883. The Church is well organized and very prosperous. The 
Sunday School has grown to large proportions and has enjoyed remarkable 
prosperity. The property of the Church has been much improved of late. 

In June, 1885, Mr. John Love,Sr., of New York, was by an unanimous vote 
elected to the offices of Associate Pastor and Sabbath-school visitor. It is be- 
lieved that the relationship thus formed is entirely unique, no other instance 
being known of a father becoming an associate of his son. In the September 
following, Mr. Love was ordained to the full work of the ministry, which, he 
had been exercising since 1853, under the limitations of a license. After a 
successful service of 18 months, in response to a call to become the Associate 



GERMANTOWN. 219 

Pastor of Rev. H. M. Sanders, in the Central Baptist Church, of New York City, 
he returned thither. 

At the time of its organization, the Second Baptist Church numbered 32 
members ; 500 have since been baptized, 201 have joined by letter and 26 by 
experience, making a total of 727 names which have been enrolled on the 
membership of the church during its history. 

The present membership (October, 1889) is 427. During the 23 years of its 
existence the church has raised for all purposes, about $173,000. The prop- 
erty of which it is now possessed is valued at $83,000, and is free of all encum- 
brance. 

The growth and success of the church have been largely due to the Bible- 
school, which for upwards of a quarter of a century has been under the super- 
intendency of Deacon Charles H. Cummings. In the summer of 188'J, exten- 
sive improvements were made in the chapel. Galleries were erected at either 
end, and so divided as to provide 9 class-rooms, a library and Pastor's study. 
The platform was placed on one side of the room and chairs substituted for 
pews. Tasteful frescoing and attractive furnishings have rendered the chapel 
a model of beauty and convenience. 

The re-opening services were held on the afternoon of October 6. Addresses 
were delivered by the Pastor, Rev. John Love, Jr., and Revs. James Lisk, D. D., 
John S. James, Wm. E. Needham, and others. Special services were also ob- 
served on the evening of that day, when an address was delivered hy Rev. H. L- 
Wayland, D. D., editor of tlje National Baptist. 

QUEEN STREET. 

About fifty-four years ago Queen street contained only Isaac Lackin's house 
next west of the saM' mill of Watson & Co., and an old-fashioned yellow frame ■ 
house belonging to John Coulter, on Queen, west of Wayne, which is now de- 
molished. A small story and a half house on the east side of Queen street; 
belonging to Mr. Disston, formerly was the property of the Brownhulse family. 
A lean-to adjoins it. The building is plastered and whitewashed. 

Mr. Keifer's house, next to the house mentioned, is old, but modernized. It 
is now a gi'ocery. The Jungurth house is near these buildings and has high 
steps. It is of stone, pointed. John Shingle's house, on the same side, is an 
old stone building. Mrs. Rittenhouse had a stone dwelling near. The place 
belongs to Mrs. Tilghman. The original dwelling has recently been demol- 
ished. It was an old landmark of stone. The .Jungurths were carriage 
builders, and their place of business was below Jabez Gates's grocery, on sarae 
side, opposite Mr. William Wynne Wister's residence. 

The frame house on the opposite side of the street, corner of Queen and 
Wayne streets, is the old Widdis property. Mrs. Widdis was a Miss Jungurth 
and her children still dwell there. The Sbingle family are stone masons and 
builders of known reputation. The Jungurth house is owned b}^ Samuel Brad- 



220 GERMANTOWN. 

bury, who bought it on the death of Miss Susan Jungurth, the last of the im- 
mediate family. The Littell estate runs through from Manheim street, having 
a large front on Queen street, adjoining the Rittenliouse property. 

CARLTON. 

On the west side of Queen lane, after crossing Township Line, we come to 
the estate of Cornelius S. Smith, called " Carlton," which name was taken from 
a castle of Queen Elizabeth. A stone in the foundation of the porch of the 
mansion has the date 1780. In a window pane in the stairway of the hall is 
the name M. R. Lee, 1827, Roxborough, written with a diamond ring. This 
was Mary, a sister of the Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
This estate is a portion of a tract which contained 5000 acres which Wm. Peiin, 
as Proprietary, deeded to John Lowther, and Ann Charlotte Lowther. He 
sells to Jos. Turner in 1731, who sells to John Ashmead. The Cornelius 
Smith estate was at one time over 100 acres. A part was sold to Mr. James C. 
Kempton, and is now owned "by the Misses Wain, and Messrs. Sill and 
Dougherty, on School lane. The properties of Miss Emma Taylor, and 
Mr. H. L. Duhring, on the opposite side of Indian Queen lane, were also a 
part of it. Mr. James Vaux at one time held the property, and sold it to Mr. 
Wm. T. Stockton. The plantation was then called Roxborough. 

The next owner of " Carlton " was Thomas Lee, father of Bishop Lee. 
Thomas Lee was followed in the ownership by John C. Craig, who married 
Miss Jane Josephine Biddle. He was a man of great wealth, and fond of 
horses, and kept a large stud of race horses for his amusement. He had a 
race course on the property. He died when traveling abroad, and the estate 
was sold to Mr. Cornelius S. Smith by Mr. Thomas Dunlap, executor, and 
guardian of the only child, a son, who died in youth. The large dwelling is 
built of stone and plastered and whitened, so tliat the exterior resembles tlie 
whiteness of the Haines house, on Main street. The partitions are of solid 
stone, plastered without lathing. The central part contains two stories and 
an attic, with a dormer window on each side. A fine old wide hall with an 
old stair case with antique woodwork is a pleasant point in the architecture, 
and the lawn on each side affords a pretty picture from the doors with the 
shrubbery and grass, in natural condition. The east doors of the hall are of 
remarkable width, and studded with brass nails, as a help against burglars. 
A stove pipe hole was cut in an upper panel perhaps before the days of hard 
coal and furnaces. In front there is a fine piazza with a stone floor and Gre- 
cian pillars. The rear of the hall, which contains the entrance from the car- 
riage drive, in old English fashion, has a porch for admittance with a 
ti'iangular front, containing a window on each side of the door. The parlor 
is furnished with chairs of the claw foot pattern or ancient style, which were 
a part of the furniture of the grandparents of the present occupants of the 
house, and stood on the first carpet used in Philadelphia at Fifth and Spruce 



GERMANTOWN. 223 

streets, according to Watson's Annals. Mr. Craig built the two wings of the 
house, which he did not live to occupy. Under the main building are cellar 
kitchens and a sub-cellar. Under the front piazza is a wine cellar, and under 
the porch a vault for meat. 

Cornelius S. Smith purchased the property in May, A. D. 1840. His two 
sons and two daughters (Robert L. and Cornelius S., and Rolanda S. Smith 
and Elizabeth S. Newhall), still occupy the old mansion. Since the purchase 
of the estate, it has been increased by purchase and diminished by sale. Mr. 
Smith purchased eighty -four acres in the original tract. A stone which used 
to be in a tenant house, which is now a ruin, reads thus : " Ruined by the war 
■ of 1777, rebuilt more firmly 1780 by the trusty Isaac Tustin." A number of 
Indian arrowheads, and several pennies of George the Fourth's day have been 
dug up on the property; the pennies had been taken up within four or five 
years. The Hessians were encamped on this place. The tradition is that 
Washington dined here. Some distance from the house Craig had his stables, 
which were of frame, and have since been removed. 

The ScHUTZEN Park is situated farther down the lane, as the music now 
heard reminds us, on the opposite side from Carlton, and joins Mr. H. L. 
Duhring's place. 

Adjoining Carlton on the same side is a handsome stone house belonging to 
Mr. Samuel Bradbury. The estate contains some twenty acres. Mr. Bradbury 
is now opening streets, and building houses upon it. 

At the corner of Queen lane and Township line was situated an old stone 
house and barn, belonging to the John Coulter estate. The stone barn was 
destroyed by fire several years ago. The mansion was removed on completion 
of the new railroad. It was occupied by Italian laborers during the building 
of the new^ railroad. One of tho pretty stations called Queen Lane was built 
on the grounds. 

THE SHIP HOUSE. 

It is supposed that a sea captain had the ship placed which is formed of 
plaster of Paris on the lower gable of this house. The house is of stone 
plastered. The street has been raised thus lowering the house. The rear of 
the building was the first hall in Germantown, which was used for praj'er 
meetings and singing-schools. It would hold 250 persons. The front part of 
the house is one hundred and twenty years old. The hall was built afterwards. 
George Peters kept a hotel here. The sign was the Indian's Treaty with Penn. 
Famous was this hotel in its day, and the Ship House is yet a noted spot. 
Sleighing parties used to come from the city, especially students. Mrs. Peters 
was a Miss Bender and was noted as a landlady, and as a heljjer among the 
sick. The Chestnut Hill stages used to stop here. The Bockius famih', to 
whom I am indebted for information, think that stages first ran direct from 



2-24 GERMANTOWN. 

here to the city. A little fire-engine called the Bulldog was kept in a small 
triangular room on the north side of the house. The roof joins the next house 
diagonally. In the days of the hotel it was the dependence of the town with 
its little leather buckets. The company was composed 0/ volunteers. Mr. 
.losiali Woods owned and kept the hotel after Mr. Peters. The American army 
liorse.s were accommodated here. Mr. James Ford bought the property and 
started a Ladies' Boarding Scliool in it. 

James Ford's Boarding and Day School for Young Ladies was in this place, 
about 18.SG, and afterward. Tiie daughters of Watson, the annalist, attended 
it. Mr. Ford was a Scotchman. His wife was Miss Sutherland, of Scotland. 
Miss Isabella Sutherland, her sister, assisted in the instruction. Mrs. Suther- 
land, tlie mother of Mrs. Ford, an aged Scotch lady, made her home with them. 
The teacliers were polished and well educated. The school was select and 
many young ladies of Philadelpiiia were educated there. . The pupils were 
ti'eated as members of the family. The place is just above Washington lane 
on tlie west side of Main street. The lot is large and the grounds are deep. 
The Fords wont to California, and their descendants are there. The Chamber- 
lain House, San Francisco, is kept by one of the family. 

(.■liarles Bockius bought the Ship House of the Fords about forty-live years 
ago, having previously owned and occupied the house below, which is No. 
5226. Jacob Unrod, the grandfatlier of tiie Bockius family owned the land 
below the Ship House to Ellwood .Johnson's liouse, together with the buildings 
there standing. He used to make horse collars, and his shop still .stands, on 
the street below the Ship House, but partially destroyed. 

The second house above Wasliington lane, on Main street, was owned by 
Wm. Keyser, who was a tanner and a brother of the Dunkard preacher, Pater 
Keyser. There was a tannery on the place in the rear of the house. 

John Knorr was a noted town chronicler of (xermantown. He died in a 
little stone house on the upper corner of West Walnut lane. The building- 
lias disappeared. He lived previously in a long house with small windows, 
which was called Noah's Ark from its appearance. 

Rkv. peter keyser, Jr. 

Abraham H. Cassel, of Harleysville, Pa., prepared a sketch of this good 
man for "The Brethren's Almanac," of 1884, which I will condense. The 
Keyser family wei'e noted in Europe as followers of the eminent Menno 
Simon. Leonard Keyser M'as burned at the stake in Bavaria in 1527, on 
account of his religion. The family settled in Amsterdam. Hence Peter 
Dirck Keyser, the great-grandfather of the jjreacher, came to America, and in 
1G88 was one of the first settlers of Germantown. The preacher's grandfather, 
Direk Keyser, was born here September 26, 1701 ; and Peter, his father, in 
1782, on the 8th of August, and the preacher himself on November U, 1766. 
The father was a tanner. He became a member of the " Church of the 
Brethren," sometimes called "German Baptists," and familiarly " Dunkards.' 



GERMANTOWN. 225 

He was buried in the Concord graveyard, where most of the brethren were 
buried before they had a graveyard of their own. Rev. Peter Keyser, Jr., 
was baptized in his eighteenth year by Martin Urner, in 1784. He was a 
youth of quick conception and wonderful memory. He could readily commit 
chapters of Scripture. When grinding bark he had a shielf placed where he 
could see the open Bible while at work, and he memorized the New Testa- 
ment and the greater part of the Old. The pious man was called to the 
ministry in 1785, and having proved a good laborer in Christ's vineyard, was 
installed Bishop or Elder in 1802, on the 2d of August. He died in the house 
in which he used to say that he was twice born, that is naturally and 
spiritually, on May 21, 1849, in his eighty-third year. The house is the one 
on Main street, near Washington lane, owned and occupied by Ellwood 
Johnson. Peter Keyser, Jr., was pastor of the Germantown and Philadelphia 
churches for sixty-three years. He was elder for forty-seven of these years, 
He was a very efficient preacher in English and German. He was pro- 
foundly learned in Scripture and was an eloquent orator. Crowds of hearers, 
including Roman Catholics and all denominations, attended his services. 
He used to rise at four o'clock to studj' before business, and this may have 
injured his sight, as he became blind. He preached, although blind. He 
would name a chapter and then repeat it from memory without missing a 
word. He would correct those who made a mistake in reading Scripture, as 
did the blind Saint Didymus, of Alexandria. Mr. Cassel says that, like Saul, 
he was " higher than any of the people," being six feet and three inches in 
heiglit. He was "rather spare in form, but very athletic." In 1794 he gave 
up the tanning business, in which he had been engaged with his father, and 
removed to Philadelphia and entered into a large lumber business. In 1828 
he retired and returned to Germantown. In his extensive business he never 
resorted to law suits. He was verj'- tall and wore a Dunker suit of drab with 
a long coat and drab hat. Mr. Simpson, the author of "Eminent Phila- 
delphians," speaks of his intimate knowledge of Holy Scripture in German 
and English. He seemed to remember the words of the whole Bible and the 
chapter and the verse which contained them. Rev. Dr. Phillip F. Mayer said 
that if the Scriptures were destroyed by accident he thought that Peter. 
Keyser could replace them from memory. Mr. Keyser was a member of the 
Board of Health, and held office in the Prison Society and Public School 
Board. Dr. Peter D. Keyser has kindly added the following particulars to 
Mr. Cassel's interesting n.irralive : 

"Peter Keyser resided in Germantown in the house now occupied by Ell- 
wood Johnson, Main street, above Washington avenue, until 1794, when he 
moved to the city to embark in the lumber business with his brother-in-law, 
George Gorgas, on Front street, above Callowhill. He then purchased the 
homestead of Mr. Hare, the brewer (father of Robert Hare and John Hare 
Powell), on Callowhill street, below SeSond, where he resided until 1828, when 
he moved back into the old homestead of his fatlier, where he lived until liis 



226 GEEMANTOWN. 

death in May, 1849. He died in the same house in which he was born. He 
married, March 30, 1790, Catherine Clemens, of Horsham, Montgomery 
county. She was the daughter of Garret and Keturah Clemens. He left 
three sons — Elhanan W., Nathan Levering and Peter A., — and six daughters. 
Mary, married to Christopher L. Langstroth ; Elizabeth, to Benjamin Urner, 
of Cincinnati, Ohio; Hannah, to John Riehle; Clementine, to Michael K.. 
Lynd (mother of Judge Lynd of this city) ; Susannah, to Frederick R. Backus, 
of New York ; Margaret, to Cipriano Canedo, of Mexico.". 

The Rev. Mr. Keyser was a peace man in the Revolution, on account of 
his religious principles. In those stirring times his house was mobbed and 
stoned at night. He found a written paper belonging to a neighbor the next 
morning, and took it to him and said, " You paid me a visit last night." 

The Keysers were long lived. They came from Holland, having left 
Germany previously on account of religious persecution. One branch of the 
family went to Baltimore. When Rev. Peter Keyser, Jr., was a boy he assisted 
in burying several soldiers after the battle of Germantown ; one was a British 
officer. In the Upper Burying Ground, in the present generation, in digging 
a grave, buttons and clothing were unearthed, being relics of Revolutionary 
times. Peter Keyser lived in Callowhill street in the winter. He left his city 
house on account of yellow fever, and placed it in charge of a trusted servant) 
a redemptionist. This man died in the owner's absence, and was buried in 
some place unknown to Mr. Keyser, who was anxious to ascertain his burial 
place. In walking with his wife on a moonlight evening they both saw the 
figure of the dead man sitting above a grave in Franklin Square, and the 
figure vanished as they spoke about him. They found that this was his grave.. 

THE DUNKARD CHURCH. 

On the east side of the Main street, a little above Sharpnack street, lies the 
old Dunkard Church. This is the first church of this denomination in the 
United States. It is now under the charge of Rev. Mr. Fry, of Philadelphia. 
The church was founded in the year of our Lord 1745. In approaching the 
church the sexton's house draws the attention. Owing to the raising of 
the grade of the street the building has been depressed. It has a quaint look, 
with its pent-roof, and the dormer windows make a second story in appearance. 
It is entered by a descent. Joseph Scheetz, the present sexton, occupies it. 
The angles into which the upper side is broken add to its picturesqueness. 
Mr. Scheetz informs me that the house is over 200 years old, and that forty 
deeds represent the property belonging to the church grounds. Christopher 
Saur, the printer, was a preacher in this .place. There is a neat yard in front- 
of the church. The edifice is simple. Tliere is a porch before the door. 
Flag-stones cover its floor. Some ladies who have relatives buried in the 
grave yard have had an excellent flag-s'tone walk laid to the burying-ground 
in the rear. A circular window surmounts the porch and an arched window 



GERMANTOWN. 227 

is on each side of the door. Formerly the ceiling was low, but the upper 
floor has been removed, and the ceiling has been raised and arches introduced. 
There are two arches on each side of the pulpit. John Mack was the first 
preacher and founder of the parish. His German epitaph reads : " Born 1712, 
died 1805." • His wife Elizabeth is buried at his side. As we stand in this 
beautiful cemetery on this pleasant hill-slope, under the November sun, the sex- 
ton gives the striking information that about 2060 are buried in this city of the 
dead. They are quiet neighbors. A good wall surrounds the inclosure, 
which has stood about 50 years. Judge James Lynd was buried here in 1875. 
Here is the tomb stone of Godfried Lehman, which has been brought here from 
his place of burial when his body was removed. He was born in Putzkau, in the 
city of Dresden, Saxony, in Europe. Departed this life here in Germantown, 
October 4, A. D. 1756, aged 67 years, 11 months and 26 days. Peter Keyser 
was a preacher here. He lived for many years in Ellwood Johnson's present 
residence. He lies among his old flock. Here is his epitaph : 

"PETER KEYSER. 

Born November 19th, 1766. For more than sixty years o follower of the re- 
ligion of Jesus, and for fifty years pastor of the German Baptist Church of 
this place. Died May 21st, 1849, aged 83 years. Finally brethren farewell ; 
be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace ; and the God of 
love and peace shall be with you." 

By his side is his wife. Her epitaph reads : " Catherine Clemens, wife of 
Peter Keyser, Born May 14th, 1770, Died June 6th, 1855, Aged 84 years." 

This cemetery is kept in excellent order, and on this fall day there is a 
pleasure " akin to pain " in thus consorting with'^the dead, among whom we 
shall 90 shortly be numbered. The polite sexton and my antiquarian friend, J. 
Duval Rodney, Esq., assist my researches. A number of the Keyser family, 
sleep peacefully beneath us. The Foxes, the Langstroths, and the Lehmahs 
are also interred here. The Gorgas family have made this a place of sepulture. 
The epitaph of a former preacher is as follows: "In memory of my Grand- 
father, Charles Hubbs. Born June 16th, 1761. Died April 27th, 1847, in his 
87th year. At the age of twenty he united with the German Baptists, preach- 
ing many years in this Meeting House, giving his services free in the cause of 
Christ. Erected by Virginia Hubbs." The cemetery grounds were enlarged 
by purchase not long since. The old horse-sheds are about to be removed to 
give more space for burials. The simple ancient brown building which faces 
the street on this narrow entrance to the deep lot dates from 1745. It is 
mentioned by the Swedish traveler Kalm. • 

Watson gives 1709 as the date when Tunkards from Germany and Holland 
came to Germantown, their first settlement in Pennsylvania. He speaks of a 
log house used for worship which stood in front of the present stone one. 
Alex. Mack was a leader. He was a rich miller from Cresheim, who gave his 



228 GERMANTOWN. 

property into the common stock and in 1708 came, with eight or ten others, to 

Germantown. In 1719 others followed. Mack died at an advanced age. 

His son Alexander lived beyond the age of ninety. John Bettikoffer built 

the log house named above in 1731 for his dwelling. Alexander Mack, Jr., 

succeeded his father in the ministry of this parish. As early as 1723 Peter 

Baker was the minister. The Ephrata Tunkards dressed uniformly, their 

heads being covered with the hoods of their gray surtouts, like Dominican 

friars. Watson adds that old people living when he wrote remembered seeing 

forty or fifty of them on religious visits to Germantown, with long beards and 

girdles and barefoot, or with sandals, in Indian file, silently walking along. 

Ward gives this anecdote about Dunkards, which may find its niche here : 

" Mrs. Innes Randolph's grandfather, Robert Rutherford, was a member of 

the House of Burgesses of Virginia for about thirty years and of the Federal 

Congress of 1793. Early in life, in attempting to cross a swollen ford, he 

came near being drowned, a fate from which he was saved by one of the. 

people called Dunkards. Filled with gratitude, Rutherford expressed his 

hearty thanks and promised to do anything his preserver would request. 

The simple-minded Dunkard said he would be pleased if Rutherford would 

assume the plain garb of the sect, and if he would wear his beard untrimmed 

as thej^ did. This was somewhat more serious then than at this time when 

beards are so common. Adorned in this unusual manner, Rutherford made 

his appearance in Philadelphia, where, with other members of Congress, he 

was often invited out to dine. On one of these occasions he repaired to the 

house of his host somewhat before the hour named, and that hour in the age 

when so much devolved upon the hostess often required a considerable grace. 

Under the supposition that the visitor was a Pennsylvania Dunkard farmer, 

he was ushered into the kitchen, where he was at once requested to aid in 

peeling potatoes, after which he was invited to remain there. The dinner 

soon was ready and all the guests but one were assembled. The remarks 

usual on such occasions were made, and of course there was one concerning 

the untrimmed beard of the tardy member. This opened the eyes of the 

hostess, who at once enclaimed : ' He must be the man whom I requested to 

peel potatoes.' He was now soon seated at a table that proved all the merrier 

for a mishap which he enjoyed as much as anj' one there." 

The following incident, narrated by Ward, has reference to the locality of 
the Dunkard Church : 

" On Monday, June 28, 1885, I entered a passenger car at Wayne Station to 
go along the Germantown road to Cliveden, and I witnessed in it one of those 
little exhibitions of life that adds to its charm. In the car there were two' 
men whose remarks attracted my attention. I gathered that they had left 
Germantown a quarter of a century ago to enter the army. Since then they 
had lived in Illinois, as well as I could make out. As we passed along the 
road they pointed out many a place they recognized, and occasionalh'^ they 
would call to some one they knew. One or two had been fellow soldiers? 



GERMANTOWN. 229 

judging from their replies. When opposite the Dunker's Church, filled with 
enthusiasm, inspired by the glories of their native place, they spoke of the 
great age of the building, for it stood there, they said, at the time of the Revo- 
lution. This they addressed to a companion, a young man of about twenty- 
five, who was visiting the East for the first time. ' What was the Revolu- 
tion ?' inquired he. > ' Revolution ! Why, that was when the Americans fought 
for their liberties.' 'When was it?' 'In 1776.' The young man, whose 
remembrance did not carry him back so far, relapsed into a silence so pro- 
found that it was evident the matter was beyond his comprehension." 

I gladly acknowledge aid from J. Duval Rodney, Esq., in tracing the 
history of upper Main street. In the account of the Manual Labor School a 
distinguished professor was called McCoy by tnistake. The name should be 
Charles F. McCay, LL. D. Roberdeau Buchanan writes Ward that his geneal- 
ogies of the Roberdeau family and " Descendants of Dr. William • Shippen 
tlie Elder " will give an account of some of the old inmates of the Blair House. 
They can be seen at the rooms of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
The same gentleman writes me that there is a discrejjancy in Watson who 
speaks of Lieut. Whitman as a patient of Dr. Witt after the battle, while he 
gives the date of the Doctor's death as 1765. He adds that Vice President 
Breckenridge should have been described as the grandson of Rev. Samuel 
Stanhope Smith, President of Princeton College. 

For notice of Hessians on Mrs. Cornelius S. Smith's place, mentioned in a 
previous number, see J. J. Smith's Life of Henry Hill, and Ed. J. Lowell's 
Hessians in the Revolution. 

One of the English weavers who came over with John Button said that 
Manheim street was originally a cart track to the farms in the rear. A part 
of it was called Shinbone Alley. Haines street was the first one opened as a 
street rather than a road and it was quite an event when that occurred. 

The Upper Burying Ground contains some inscriptions which show the 
gradual change from the use of the German language to the English. First 
there is the name Schneider, then Snyder, and afterward Taylor follows in 
consecutive order, which is a translation of the German, as in old English this 
is the same as our word tailor. There is this remarkable epitaph : " A. Snyder, 
aged 969." The age was 69 and the first 9 was put in by mistake. The 
number was filled with cement, which fell out and left the strange record. 

While the early purchasers of Germantown were styled the Frankfort Land 
<Jompany, the patent given by Penn to the German and Dutch through his 
secretary, Markham, authorizing survey and location, is worded respectively 
to each ; so that they must have acted individually, though in concert. The 
Frankfort association should be called a combination rather than a company. 
Each separate foreign owner gave his power of attorney to the American 
agent. Carpenter street was nearly the line between Ancient Germantown 
and Cresheim. 



230 GERMANTOWN. 

The residence of John Stephen Benezet was spoken of by Ward but not 
exactly located. I have learned that he lived nearly opposite the Adamson 
mansion on Main street. His house has disappeared. 

The Mennonite graveyard figured in the battle of Germantown. A later 
incident gives it a mournful history. In firing cannon Here on the 4th of 
July, seventy or eighty years ago, one of the Unruh family was killed and 
two were maimed for life. 

- I have had the pleasure of seeing a picture of the old Mennonite church, 
drawii by Richards, which gives Samuel Keyser's house, which use<l to stand 
on the upper side. He was the father of Gideon, Reuben and Daniel Keyser. 
It was customary for the family to gather under the old roof-tree on Sundays. 
A frame shoe shop stood back of the stone house and a court yard in the rear 
contained several houses. The marble yard was a part of the property before 
Pastorius street was opened. The double house of Mrs. M^ashington Pastorius 
is now just above the site of the old mansion. Samuel Keyser had a number 
of young apprentices. 

Bishop Benjamin Ely, in his Histor}^ of the Mennonites, states that Herman 
Opden Graeff was a delegate to the Mennonite Conference, held in the city of 
Dortrecht on April 21st, A. D. 1632 ; and signed the eighteen Articles of 
Faith of the Mennonite Church. He was the father of eighteen children, one 
of whom, named Isaac, had four children, three sons and one daughter named 
Margaretta. This is the family that settled early in Germantown. My atten- 
tion has been drawn to this interesting fact by Mr. Daniel Kulp Cassel, of 
Nicetown, a descendant in the sixth generation of Rev. Martin Kulp, the 
noted preacher at the Skippack Mennonite church. He is preparing a History 
of the Mennonites which he purposes to publish in book form, and which will 
be interesting to Germantown people, as treating of the early inhabitants. 

Below the late Charles Megargee's residence was Mary Moyer's shop with 
this sign : 

"I, Mary Moyer, keep cakes and beer; 

I make my sign a little wider to let you know I sell good cider." 

About where Pastorious street is was the property of Mr. Keisel. There was 
a house there which has disappeared. It was used as a tenement house, and 
several families occupied it. 

On Morton street, between Hermon and the point where Tulpohocken 
would cut through, if it were opened, stands an old mansion long known as 
the Cocoonery. It was built by Philip Syng Physick, son of Dr. Physick, 
for the purpose of propagating silk-worms, about 1840, during the Multi- 
caulis fever. Germantown was at that time covered with trees, planted for 
the food of the silk-worms. One of them still stands in St. Michael's church- 
yard, in High street, but improvements have largely swept them away. The 
trees were spread broadcast by Mr. Physick and his friends, but the venture 
did not result in much profit. A similar building, also yet called the 



GERMANTOWN. 231 

Cocoonery, now stands on the West Chester turnpike, a Httle beyond the Burd 
Asylum, and is a relic of those wild days of speculation. The Germantown 
Cocoonery was originally a one-story building. A second-story was afterward 
added some years ago, the present owner, Samuel Eastburn, adding a Mansard 
roof. The house was formerlj'- like a great hall. For at least twenty years 
this large wooden building has been a boarding-house. The mulberry tree 
and the silk industry have had a wonderful history, as they have traveled 
together through the ages from their home in China, to Persia and Turkey 
and Greece and Italy. The white and red berries of the trees, which had 
shone under the sunlight in France and Spain, enlivened the streets of Ger- 
mantown for a time, and then departed. 

The property of Henry Freas lies on the west side of Main street, separated 
by one house intervening from the residence of Gideon Keyser. The three- 
story building there is on land formerly owned by Mr. Raser, and afterward 
by Joseph Baisch. Two stone houses, which have disappeared formerly stood 
on the ground. Matthias Raser was a tanner, as Gideon Keyser informs me. 
The white house numbered 5166 belonged to him and afterward to Baisch. 
Caspar Heft's grandfather — ^paternal grandfather — lived opposite Mr. Engie's 
present residence, in the Revolution. The land between Vernon Hall and the 
Wister estate once belonged to the Channon family. No. 5073, which has 
heen demolished while these papers were appearing, was a quaint little build- 
ing on the Carpenter estate, opposite the Haines place, used by John Francis, 
as a shoe shop. Its polite occupant showed me the structure before its 
demolition. It was the Germantown Post-Ofiice during Andrew Jackson's 
administration. The walls are thick and solid. A closet cut into the wall 
was like the firm book-cases of a room in an Engli?h university. The ancient 
hinges and time-worn ceiling and inner wall had done duty for many a day. 
Several inches of accumulated lime wash were once taken from the walls on 
the first floor. The room yielded fifty-six baskets of scrapings. The old 
white washers did their duty well. It is said that Dr. Witt once lived in this 
house. Nos. 5159 and 5163 belonged to Christopher Hergesheimer. The 
building is the same, but it has been altered. Frederick Johnson has his 
livery stable there. No. 5216 is Mrs. Hocker's residence. It is made inter- 
esting by the fact that James E. Murdock, the elocutionist, once lived there 
and practiced his art. The old stone house marked No. 5218 belonged 
anciently to the Unrod familj^ It also belonged to Anthony Johnson, the 
father of Justus Johnson. Enoch Taylor now lives in it. The Main street 
depot of the Reading Railroad is on the Wunder property. The first ticket 
agent was Major Matthias Holstein, of a Swedish family, of Norristown. He 
had held stock in the railway, which collapsed, and so he got this berth. 
Messrs. Brooks and Krickbaum followed him in this position. 

At the upper corner of East Walnut Lane, on Main street, the Rev. Dr. 
Blair built a house for his son-in-law, Major Roberdeau. Mr. Perot now 



232 GERMANTOWN. 

resides there. John Button, the manufacturer, lived and died here. The 
house belongs to his grandson, Priestly Button. The next house above Mr. 
Button's house, marked 5105, was formerly owned by John Leibert. It after- 
wards fell into the hands of Conyers Button. Mr. Button owns the next 
double house. The Washington bakery is on the site of the bouse of George 
Ax. Frederick Ax was a militia officer in the Revolution, and a prominent 
early Methodist. The picturesque house of John Knorr, which stood at the 
upper corner of West Walnut lane and Main street, must not be forgotten. 
It was torn down a few years ago. An allusion to it has already been made, 
but it was of such interest that it deserves another word. 

[Germantowners will see at the close of this sketch the name of a fellow 
citizen long noted in business, as well as in poetry and hymnody. He kindly 
aids our work.] 

My earliest recollections of Germantown date back about fifty years, a short 
time after the railroad was put in operation. My first visit was on a summer 
afternoon with a friend, and most of the route was beautifully rural, as the 
city had made but little progress northerly at that day, fields with post-and- 
rail fences being then undefaced by the multitudes of houses seen by present 
travelers on the road. We were landed on an open space facing the Main 
street, and we started out to view the borough. We went up and down the 
long thoroughfare, and found it intersected by a few green lanes. All was 
slumberously quiet, with an occasional sleepy-looking inn. Few people were 
seen. The staunch stone houses with closed blinds seemed to be asleep, and 
the trees also. Everything indicated that the inhabitants were given to 
contemplative ease. We were strangers, without an acquaintance there, and 
we found no place of rest for our feet, no public garden, no ice-cream saloon 
nor spruce-beer nor peanut stand — nothing but a tavern or two, which we did 
not care to enter. The pavements were uneven, with frequent driveways 
across at the side of the houses. Well, we grew weary, and as no fitting place 
offered to us opportunity to join the burghers in their slumberous proclivities> 
we returned to the starting place and re-entered a car, and awaited the de- 
parture of the train. 

The cars were composed of three compartments, as if three coach-bodies hail 
been fastened together. Each cornpartment was entered by side door.3, and con- 
tained two seats as broad as the car-body and facing each other, so that eight or 
ten persons would fill a compartment. The conductor in collecting tickets walk- 
ed along a strip or platform on the side. Afterward cars of the present shape 
were added, except that the seats ran lengthwise, from the front to the rear, two 
of them back to back in the centre, with one on each side against the windows. 
I remember riding at another time in a Manayunk car, with cross-seats as now, 
but with leather curtains, fastened by buckles in bad weather, instead of glass 
sashes. I have a lively recollection of this car, for after I had unloosed a 
curtain to look out for my getting-off place, a conductor came along, and crying 



GERMANTOWN. 233 

out "What fool opened this curtain?" at once refastened it. This was the 
only discourtesy I have ever experienced in a railroad car ; and this, I am glad 
to say, was not on the Germantown branch. 

In the early days of the Germantown Railroad the conductors did not 
hesitate to stop and pick up passengers along the way. Once, while returning 
to town from a visit to a friend who resided in the old borough, I saw a man 
running swiftly over the field where the Glen Echo Carpet Mills now stand ; and 
as he ran he lustily bellowed out, " S-t-o-p ! S-t-o-p ! S-t-o-p ! " The engine not 
coming to a standstill at once, the man continued to shout as he drew nearer. 
The engineer, becoming angry, let out a curse and exclaimed, " Do you think 
I can stop a locomotive like a wheelbarrow ? " The man got aboard and the 
train went on. Railroads, like bad watches, did not keep exact time in that 
day. A daughter tells me that during a trip to Florida years ago the con- 
ductor halted his train for half an hour to give the passengers an opportunity 
to witness a horse-race. Another time he stopped to gather wild flowers for the 
lady passengers, and further on he waited awhile near a- house by the roadside 
to allow a young woman to run over and kiss her mother, who resided there. 

The Wingohocken, famed as a beaver haunt in the olden days of the borough, 
now glided ripplingly beside the embankment between Church lane and Shoe- 
maker lane stations, and shone in the sunlight like a diamond studded ribbon. 
Before reaching the latter station, however, its course was deflected to the east 
by a massive rock. In the far-away ages the brook had cut its way into the 
side of the rock until a canopy of stone hung over it. On this rock Mr. Shoe- 
maker erected a small stone house, now known 'as the Rock House and reputed 
to be the oldest building in Philadelphia ; and the rocky projection formed the 
platform from which William Penn is said to have preached to the people 
gathered in the meadow below. Some iconoclastic agent of the Reading Rail- 
road, devoid of antiquarian proclivities, a year or two ago had its ancient and 
venerable stone walls smeared over with mortar. Ugh! 

The Wingohocken seemed to be an innocent little stream, with nothing to do 
but sing on its way to the delight of maiden and of poet, until some practical 
economic folk put it to use in turning round and round certain mill-wheels as 
far down its course as Fisher's Lane ; and yet the quiet stream once in awhile 
broke out in sudden rages, even to the destruction of life of man and beast. 
These, however, came on rare occasions only, when a vast and sudden rainfall 
deluged its extensive water-shed. Phew ! how it rushed at the old stone bridge 
over Church lane ! and when the arched openings under it were not able to 
give the waters passage way, how it piled itself up and backed over the meadow 
till it became a lake ! The bridge at Shoemaker lane formed a second obstacle, 
and the field between the two lanes became a second lake. Only a few years 
ago, the Armat street bridge was carried off just after night-fall, and the waters 
swept across the street and bore away a carriage in w'hich an indiscreet coach- 
man had attempted to stem the stream, and amid the darkness and thunder 
and lightning, the horse and the driver and his master's son all perished. 



234 GERMANTOWN. 

The stream silently subsided in the night time, and the bodies were found in 
the morning. 

Honey Run, a little tributary to the Wingohocken, passes under the Main 
street above Chelten avenue. Once when that street was flooded by a furious 
rain, an aquatic dog leaped into the water and to the surprise of some on-lookers^ 
suddenly disappeared. He had been sucked into an inlet opening into the Run 
and his fate was thought to be sealed. Not so, for after being swiftlj' carried 
for nearly a quarter of a mile, he had been shot out into the Wingohocken, and 
swimming to land, he returned from his subterrene excursion a wet and 
wiser dog. 

In early times the Wingohocken valley was most beautiful. I have been told 
that a fine grove of trees studded the hillside above the present gas works, and 
down the declivity danced a silvery streamlet ; and lovers were wont to wander 
here — and, no doubt, soberer folk too — to enjoj' the mellow moonlight of 
summer eves. 

Notwithstanding the somnolent characteristics of our first visit to German- 
town, the beauties of her surroundings and the railroad thitherward more than 
rewarded us, and awakened within us a burning longing for an abiding place in 
her bosom. Some twenty years passed before an opportunity came for gratify- 
ing the passion. Hard work began to show its legitimate effect, and mind and 
body grew worn and weary. " Ride daily on horseback, or remove to German- 
town," this was the doctor's dictum. The latter alternative was taken ; and a 
red brick house next to Isaiah Hacker's place on the Main street, was the only 
place of refuge available. 

During our first winter a heavy snow storm visited the place. It began on 
Sunday at one o'clock P. M., the thermometer marking zero, and continued 
through most of the night. A furious wind prevailed and the snow was drifted 
into great heaps; and German town was shut off from the rest of mankind. 
The railroad was blocked. On Tuesday morning a large sleigh, with four 
horses and crammed with passengers, started from the hotel at Price street 
corner ; but on reaching Negley's hill it. came to a stand-still, for the wind had 
swept it bare. Two of us started ahead to walk until the sleigh should over- 
take us. We got along well enough till we reached Nicetown, where the snow 
was deep, and the traveling became toilsome. The sleigh did not overtake us, 
and we arrived in the city weary and wet with perspiration, notwithstanding 
the coldness of the morning. The train got through on Tuesday afternoon, 
though Manayunk remained still blockaded. 

The Main street and Mill street continuation of a turnpike were the only 
macadamized avenues. There, was no horse railroad on Germantown road ; 
but a decaying plank road began on Wayne avenue at Queen street crossing 
and ran thence to Manhehn street, thence to Pulaski avenue, and down this 
avenue cityward. A toll-gate stood at its entrance into Pulaski avenue, whence 
the planks were laid on both sides of a magnificent row of trees that then 
adorned, the middle of that avenue; and very picturesque was the spot. 



GERMANTOWN. 235 

After the horse-road had been laid along the Main street, a rival road was 
constructed on Wayne avenue, but it did not become popular and its route was 
changed to run along Manheim and up Green street. An injunction was 
praj'ed for by the Main street line, and the court decided that the change of 
route was illegal and the new road was abandoned. Afterward a new steam 
road was projected, the route to be down Wayne avenue and under the old 
steam line at what is now known as Wayne Junction and thence to the city, 
coming in on Broad street. This was vigorously opposed and the scheme came 
to grief, but not till after a large amount had been expended in grading and 
quarrying through Wayne avenue, to the detriment of some of the pi'operties 
along the route, which were left some thirty or forty feet high above the averme. 

Not a few of the streets were notable for numerous ruts and claj^ey holes in 
early spring ; and if some of them could have been paved with the curses of team- 
sters whose wagons stuck fast in the holes, they would have been model road- 
ways, Green street and Shoemaker lane especially. The sidewalk of Green 
street and some other streets were from two to four feet above the roadway and 
unpaved. Chelten avenue was opened only as far as Green street westerly, and 
apple trees adorned its predestined roadwaj!- several feet above its level. 

Only a single track lay between Tioga street and Germantown, and the 
up-going train was compelled to await the down-coming one before it could 
leave Tioga. The Eclipse and the Fort Erie are the only locomotives that I 
now remember ; and they were small but sturdy. Duy's lane was the Cape 
Hatteras of the railroad, and many a hard tussle did the little engines have 
before they were able to round that ascending point, and this they could not ac- 
complish until the engineer spilled sand on the rails. One night when a heavy 
train was behind, even this last resort failed, and the train was divided and one- 
half was left on the road and brought up afterward. I got out and footed my 
way up to Shoemaker lane. These little engines perhaps still have a place in 
the Company's Museum, alongside the first locomotive built by Baldwin. The 
station at Germantown being 225 feet above tide water, a gravity car used to be 
started at 6 A. M. to find its way to town unaided by an engine. It was 
an exhilarting ride in the early summer morning, the speed of the car being 
kept under control by means of a brake. The only stoj^ping place was at the 
bridge over the Main street. A bell hung on the front platform gave warning 
when approaching cross-roads and to strajiglers on the track. 

Of the early conductors in memory's gallery three are distinctly in my view : 
Hilary Krickbaum, Joseph Kite and Daniel Dungan, all capable men and 
veterans on the road and all now " gone over to the majority." Dungan was 
the lady-travelers' favorite, and they once complimented him with a gold watch. 
He was mild-spoken and of gentle manners, slim-built and medium height, 
and yet. what a veritable Hercules he was when a rowdy misbehaved in a car! 
Some roughs once beset him at a station on the Germantown Railroad. Daniel 
was a proficient in the " noble art of self defense; " and he .struck out right and 
left, and after laying several of the rowdies on the ground, he quietly stepped 



236 GERMANTOWN. 

aboard his train and passed on. Dungan's gentle words and cheerful aspect 
seem to have been inherited by most of his successors even to the present. 

While rambling near the Wissahickon about thirtj'- years ago, I rested awhile 
on the trunk of a tree that had fallen beside the stream. A venerable man 
came along and sat down beside me, and we soon began to talk. Pointing to 
the hill opposite, then covered with trees, he said : " In 1796, when I was 
twenty -one years old, I cut down all the trees on that hill, and sold the wood 
for six dollars a cord." " Was not that a high price? " " Well, we wondered 
then where fuel was to come from after awhile. No one dreamed that an abun- 
dance of coal would be found in our own State." He told me that his name was 
Rittenhouse. 

Most of the grand trees that bordered the railroad have disappeared. Some 
still remain in the improved grounds on the west of the railroad above Shoe- 
maker lane, now Peun street. One, a tulip tree, was measured a montli ago, 
whicii proved to be a few inches short of one hundred and twenty feet in 
height. They measure from eleven to fourteen feet in girth. Time is gradually 
diminishing their number. This place was known as Thomson's woods, and 
I remember participating long ago in a Sunday School picnic held therein, 
when it was bounded by a jjost-and-rail fence in the rear and by a fine arbor- 
vitne hedge along the lane as far as John Jay Smith's villa. Fine oaks were in 
the Logan grounds, with chestnuts, on the west of the road. A band of Indians 
were wont to camp under these large chestnuts in pleasant weather, and sell 
their wares, even until within a dozen years or so. They may have been 
remnants of a tribe who still had traditions of the time when the old Governor 
was the friend of the Chief Wingohocken, and who gave his name to the beauti- 
ful stream soon to be entirely buried from human sight within the murky 
confines of a sewer. Just above Nicetown, to the east of the road was a fine 
grove of trees with an eye-pleasing sward beneath them. The brickmaker has 
since been there, and nothing but claj'-holes now mark the spot where once all 
was sylvan beauty. 

A row of majestic and venerable willows adorned both sides of Church lane 
east of the railroad. Gnarled, warty and weather-beaten, with long branches, 
sleepily pendant or graceful!}^ swinging at the back of the breeze, they seemed 
to be mementoes of the days when the men of unruffled lives and tempers 
dignified the borough. One tree stood in the middle of the road, at the inter- 
section of Willow avenue. Tradition says that General Washington was wont 
to enjoy an evening hour under its jjleasant summer shade ; and the tree was 
allowed to remain untouched by the ax until a windy blast laid it low a few 
years ago. More fortunate was it than a large hickory tree — the finest I ever 
saw — that stood not long ago on the verge of the gutterway in Hancock street, 
west of Church lane. I always looked upon it with admiration, and as it 
would not interfere materially with the future curving of the sidewalk it 
seemed a long and honored life would be its destiny. But, on approaching it 
one morning, I saw a number of laborers standing around it with axes in 



GERMANTOWN. . 237 

hand, and to my consternation and horror I discovered that a deep gash had 
been cut clean around the tree, through the bark and far into the wood. I was 
dumfounded when I saw that nothing could now be done to save the tree 
There was no necessity for its destruction and I could see no apology for the 
barbaric act. My wrathful indignation was intense, and the old feeling stirs 
within my heart even to this day. 

What a pleasure-ground for the rambler was rural old Germantown ! How 
many delightful spots for a stroll with wife and children ! And were not 
sundry such rambles duly recorded in the Germantowx Telegraph a score 
and a half of years ago ? And were they not modestly signed Query ? Verily ! 
What could surpass the scene around and about Roberts's quaint old mill, with 
its overshot wheel, its crystal brook, its mossy rocks with mint growing in tlie 
damp and shady places, and behind it on the upper level a beautiful lakelet 
and park-like acres ? Did we not often get on a great rock beside the mill and 
quietly watch the mice hop about the window sills, and listen to the sweet 
trickling music of the brook as it danced around the slippery rocks ? Ah me ! 
how its glory has departed, the ugly abominations of mis-called dwellings that 
now deform the scene bear eloquent witness. 

Another charming and romantic place was tlie old water- works dam, through 
which Paper Mill Run found its sinuous way toward the Wissahickou. This 
is a lovely spot yet, and will doubtless. long remain such, with the admirable 
frontage of St. Peter's Church, and the embelli-shment of the beautiful houses 
lately erected near it by Mr. Houston. 

What a lovely and romantic spot was the country surrounding Kelly's dam 
before the Chestnut Hill Railroad ran right straight through it and destroyed 
it. On the west side the ground sloped gently, diversified by evergreen's 
growing amid shelving rocks, to the water's edge. On the opposite side the 
land rose more boldly, and groups of trees hung over the banks or spread 
themselves about picturesquely up to and beyond an old red house now adjoin- 
ing the Catholic College on Chelten avenue, then unopened and ungraded. It 
was my wont to wander there on summer afternoons in days lang syne, before 
I removed to Germantown, and muse a quiet hour while wandering around or 
reposing on the grand old rocks. A strong dam had been built here, and the 
Wingohocken, " cribbed, cabined and confined," spread itself out until it formed 
a beautiful lake, and sang merrily as its .surplus water fell over the high dam 
into an abyss below. Well, well ; the beauty has vanished to the eye ; but the 
delightsome picture is fresh in my memory, " a thing of joj^ forever." 

THOMAS MACKELLAE. 

Rev. Peter Keyser, the faithful parson, who was described in a former 
article, said that one of the soldiers shot at the battle of Germantown was 
wounded in such a way that his leg was drawn up, and when the body was 
disinterred in later years the sinew was found to be contracted. This clergy- 
man was a boy nearly eleven years of age at the time of the battle, and was 



238 GERMANTOWN. 

concealed in the cellar of the Mennonite Church when General Agnew's gold 
lace attracted his attention and led him to believe that his position in the 
British army was high. The boy gathered bullets and cartridges as memen- 
toes of the battle, but some British oflEicers compelled him to give them up. 

Much was said by Ward of the Saurs as Germantown printers, but as I find 
a Jansen mentioned as a printer in one of Samuel Penny packer's sketches, 
perhaps the Johnson family may trace back to one who helped to enlighten 
the world by the printing press. 

As to the yellow fever, a daughter of Mr. Johnson and the wife or daughter 
of Mr. Hubbs died of it, about the beginning of the plague, and an aged resi- 
dent thinks that those were the only cases in Germantown. Watson says that 
six or eight persons died of it in Germantown, who " had derived it from 
Philadelphia." 

A pebble-daslied house above Duval street, on the west side of Main, is now 
in the hands of the Thomas family. Formerly it was the property of William 
Keyser, who was a brother of the Dunkard preacher. He was a tanner. 

On the northwest corner of Main and Upsal streets, stands an antique and 
])icturesque cottage, which was the residence of John Bardsley. He was called 
"Sparrow Jack." The City Councils sent him to England to bring over 
sparrows to destroy the measuring worms, which troubled the trees as well as 
those who passed under them. The cry soon was, " Deliver us from our 
friends," for the sparrows proved more troublesome than the worms. Bardslej' 
went to England through the influence of William F. Smith, who was a 
Councilman, and who resided in Germantown at that time. 

An ancient stone house stood at the northwest corner of Main and Johnson 
streets, a story and a half high, with hiijped roof. It belonged to the Johnson 
estate. A tablet in the gable on Johnson street had the date 1698. 

Some fifty years ago there was a stone house above the Buck tavern on the 
same side. It has now disappeared. Mrs. Catharine Rittenhouse, when a 
young woman, at the battle of Germantown, took refuge in its cellar, opposite 
her own place of abode, and saw two British officers on the other side of the 
street from her position, heard the report of cannon and saw both knocked 
over and killed. 

The passer-by in Haines street cannot help noticing a quaint, old-fashioned 
house on the lower side of the street. This is the old (iermantown Infant 
School. In was founded in 1829 by John Snowden, Henry and Reuben 
Haines, with the aid of a board of ladies, and has been carried on in Haines 
street for many years. A small fee was charged for tbose who could pay, and 
the very poor came free. It is now to be given up, because the public schools 
supply the want. Mrs. William Wister and Mrs. John S. Haines are direct- 
res=es; Miss A. M. Johnson is secretary, and Miss J. 'H. Bacon, treasurer. A 
late sketch of the worthy institution states that in olden times the children 
w^ere provided with bread and molasses for dinner, and the little ones had a 
bed ready if they dropped asleep. The girls were taught to sew and to spin 



GERMANTOWN. 239 

flax. The tuition was ten cents per week. Subscriptions paid what was 
lacking in the expenses. 

TULPOHOCKEN STREET. 

The name of this street is said to have been given in honor of an Indian chief. 

Paper Mill Run, called so from Rittenhouse's paper mill, formerly ran along 
this street, but the Pennsylvania Railroad has cut it off. 

Walnut lane derived its name from an immense black walnut tree, which 
was allowed to stand in the street after it was opened. It was near the barn 
on the Haines property. 

Highland avenue was formerly' called Thomas's lane. It was densely 
wooded fifty years ago. 

Harvey street was called Roop's lane from the Roop family, who lived in it- 

The old road of Germantown ran by the old Poor House, as Watson notes. — 
Annals, Vol. II, p. 35. It went in by the first (old) bank of Germantown and 
came out by Concord School House. 

Chew street was Division street, as it divided the town lots from the side lots 
which extended back from this line. 

At B. W. Beesley's, Coulter street, is the marriage certificate in fac-simile of 
Casper Wister and Katharine H. Johnson, in Friends' Meeting, at "Abbiug- 
ton," on March 25th, A. D. 1726. The Shoemaker and Jones and Bringhurst 
and Johnson families are among the signers, as well as Anthony Klincken 
and two females of that name. It is an interesting scrap of history. The 
Friends' Record Books, or their copies in the Historical Library of Pennsyl- 
vania, would afford many such. The Friends had so many signing witnesses 
that they made history. 

ROADS. 

" February 12th, 1801, the Gei-mantown and Perkiomen Turnpike Company 
was incorporated. The road was to begin at the corner of Third and Vine 
streets. Benjamin Chew was chosen president, and John Johnson, treasurer. 
This improvement had become necessar3^ The old road to Germantown ' was 
called the worst road in the United States,' and travelers often went around hj 
the way of Frankford, or across the open fields to escape its deep ruts." — 
Scharf & Westcott's History of Philadelphia, A''ol. I, p. 509. 

" It took Isaac Norris's team all daj^ to carry a load from Fair Hill to Phila- 
delphia and back, yet the Germantown road was one of the earliest laid 
out."— Scharf & Westcott's Philadelphia, Vol. I, p. 148. 

At Penn's creek, Watson speaks of a " fearful quicksand." Teams used to 
be joined together to aid each other in pulling loads out of mires ; horses were 
injured and sometimes killed. Rail stakes were set up in bad jilaces to warn 



240 GERMANTOWN. 

people to avoid them. " A ride to the city " was thought " a serious affair." — 
Annals, A^ol. II, p. 33. 

HOUSES. 

In his oration at the Centennial of the Germantown Academy, Sidney George 
Fisher well said : " German thrift, morality, steadiness and good feeling pre- 
vailed also, and their impress on the neighborhood is yet visible in the 
manners of the people and the substantial, comfortable and prosperous look of 
the houses of the old time, many of which remain. Their rich gables, pro- 
jecting eaves and cornices, hipped roofs, and pleasant sheltecred porches, are 
similar to those now to be seen in the cities and villages on the Rhine, and 
whilst they recall a respectable and interesting past, might give also, if 
properly studied, some hints in architecture to builders of what Mr. Downing 
calls the ' cocked-hat school.' No art has made more rapid progress among us 
of late years than domestic, and specially rural architecture ; yet there are 
houses in Germantown and its neighborhood, a century old, which in 
picturesque effect and the expression of solid respectability and home comfort 
and refinement, are at least equal to any of their modern rivals." 

WASHINGTON TAVERN. 

This very old tavern was owned and kept by Winfrid Nice some ninety 
years ago. After his death his widow acted as hostess for many'j^ears. John 
Nice, a brother of Winfrid, was a married man with two children when the 
Revolutionary War broke out. He raised a company and went to the war 
and served throughout it. He was captain of the company. He lived on 
Main street a little below John Channon's house on the same side. 

After the war closed he became a Justice of the Peace. 'Squire Nice bound 
out many children, according to the custom of that day. He was also a 
referee in business matters and was highly respected. " His word was his 
- bond." He was a tall and slender man, of a pleasant countenance and good 
looking. He rented a farm belonging to the Thomas family, near Thomas's 
Mill near the Bethlehem pike on Wissahickon creek where he farmed for 
several years. This was the place of his death. He was buried in the Lower 
Burying Ground at Germantown. I am obliged to the courtesy of his grand- 
daughter, Mrs. Amanda James, for this information. Capt. Nice was paid in 
Continental money for his war services, and the depreciation in the value of 
that currency made the paj'ment slight. The wife removed to the city after 
her husband's death and died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Mary 
Dugan. Mr. Sellers once was the host of the Washington Inn. Daniel 
Hines owned and conducted it for a long time. It is now kept by Matthias 
Ifil and owned by Henry Freas, who lived on the opposite side of Main street. 



GERMANTOWN. 241 

UPPER BURYING GROUND. 

At John B. Channon's the record book of this ancient cemetery is preserved. 
Its title reads : " Regulations & Ancient Original as well as subsequent pro- 
ceedings from time to time Relating to the Burying-Ground at the upper end 
of German-Town, in the city of Philadelphia in the province of Pennsylvania. 
Entered the First day of January Anno Domini 1761. Christian Lehman." 
The excellent black ink has done its duty nobly in preserving the record and 
the penmanship is good. The cemetery is now under the care of Mr. John 
C. Channon. Watson says that some Indians of the Delaware tribe are buried 
here. [Annals, Vol. II, p. 34.] 

JEREMIAH HACKER'S HOUSE. 

Duy's lane is now styled Wister street. On the upper side of this street, a 
little, above the Reading Raiboad, near Wister station, stands an old-time 
mansion of stone, which Ward mentions and hoped to describe, but the Maga- 
zine contains no further account of it, though Isaiah Hacker's house on Main 
street has its place in the history. This ancient building stands among old 
trees, which are its fitting companions.- Formerly a wood stretched behind it, 
but the rapid march of improvement and the axes impelled by American 
Gladstones have destroyed its glory. A hedge with an iron railing on its 
outer side bounds the street in front of the dwelling, and a fence stretches 
along the front of the lawu. The lawn extends both above and below the 
mansion, and is, on an autumn day, covered with the pretty fallen leaves. The 
grounds slope toward the railroad, while there is a pleasant view of the 
rolling country beyond, and the resting cattle on the sward give a pretty 
touch to the picture. The massive walls of the old house show themselves in 
the interior, where a later addition in the rear makes the back wall of the 
house a partition, and its doors betray the thickness, which shows how 
strongly the forefathers built the houses which were to stand alone, and did 
not need' to be in a modern row for mutvtal support. The wall is so thick that 
a closet has been con.structed in what was formerly a window. The old furni- 
ture within the hall and parlor is in unison with the walls which protect it. 
The Hacker family came from Salem, Mass., Isaiah leaving that place about 
A. D. 1825, and Jeremiah about 1830. They had country seats in German- 
town. Finally they became permanent residents. Jeremiah lived at Fourth and 
Spruce streets in the city, and Isaiah in Third street, between Walnut and 
Spruce. Mr. William Hacker has furnished the following account of the 
property in Wister street : 

" The house No. 170 Wister street stands on a part of the tract originally 
granted by William Penn to Lenhart Arets, in 1683. From him it passed 
through various hands until 1795. The present house was built upon it by 
Peter Unrickhouse, who sold to Martin Godfred Dorfenille iii 1797, from whom 
it was bought by George Kutz 1808, then by WiUiam Taylor, then by Daniel 



242 GERMANTOWN. 

Zeller 1828, who in 1837, conveyed the property to the late Jeremiah Hacker, 
in whose family it still remains. Although the house has been added to at 
various times the original front remains and is almost unchanged. At the 
time of the last purchase, the house was surrounded by fields extending to 
the Main street with only one house intervening and giving no promise of the 
present built-up condition of the vicinity. For many years it was held onlv 
as a country place but lately has been occupied all the year. 

" List of various owners of the land : 

1683, William Penn to Lenhart Arets, 1000 acres. 

1688, Lenhart Arets to Deimis Kunder, 300 acres. 

1733, Executor of Dennis and Conard Kunder to John Janson. 

1734, John Janson to Jacob Weiss, 7 acres. 
1765, Executors of Jacob Weiss to Joseph Swift. 

1795, Christian Duy, et al, Executor, 2 to George Danenhower. 

1795, to Peter L^nrickhouse, who built the house. 

1797, to Martin Godfred Dorfenille. 

1 808, to George Kutz. 

1808, to William Taylor. 

1828, Daniel Zeller." 

1837, Jeremiah Hacker." 

BUCK HOTEL, No. 5474. 

Mrs. Barbara Roop, who had charge of this old stone hotel kept it for forty- 
seven years. Her husband's name was George, but she did not assume the 
hotel until she was a widow. She died in October of 1886, aged 84, and is 
buried in St. Michael's churchyard. She was kind and esteemed in the 
neiiiliborhood. There were several who kept this hotel before it came into 
the liands of Mrs. Roop. John Amy was one of these. George Hocker owned 
the iiroperty year's ago, but it now belongs to the Carpenter estate. Years 
before Mrs. Roop's entrance on her duties, Mrs. Madeline Hesser, a widow, was 
the hostess for fifty years; so that the combined occupanc}'^ of Mrs. Hesser and 
Mrs. Hoop covered nearly 100 years. 

In this vicinity there are a number of two-story stone houses plastered, and 
for some reason the rears of several of them seem to run diagonally away from 
Main street, as if the}' were afraid of it. 

ST. VINCENT SEMINARY. 

The following has been contributed : — The large group of buildings on 
Chelten avenue, east of Magnolia, is occupied by a Catholic Educational Insti- 
tution known as St. Vincent Seminary. It was founded in the West in 1818, 
and, in 1868, transferred to Germantown. It is the " House of Studies " for 
young men who aspire to become members of "The Congregation of the Mis- 
sion " in the United States. This Congregation or Society was first established 



GERMANTOWN. 243 

in the city of Paris in 1625 by St. Vincent De Paul. The Society is composed 
chiefly of Ecclesiastics whose work in the ministry is two fold — to evangelize 
the poor and to educate young men for the Priesthood. Hence, candidates for 
membersliip are required to undergo a special course of training and to study 
to qualify themselves for the work of the Society. An indispensable pre- 
requisite for admission to the Seminary as a Student is to have completed the 
course of studies required in colleges of. well-known standing. After admis- 
sion to the Seminarj'^ the student finds himself onlj- on the threshold of his 
scliolastic labors. The course of study upon which he is entering requires 
eight years for its completion. It is divided as follows : Two years are 
devoted to an exhaustive revision of his previous studies in English, Mathe- 
matics, Greek, Latin, French and German. Following this period of revision 
come two years devoted to the study of Logic, Metaphysics, and, in accordance 
with the wants of the student, the stud}' of Mathematics pure and applied. 
Next comes a four years course of Dogmatic and Moral Theology together with 
Sacred Scripture, Canon Law and Church history. During six j^ears of the 
course Latin is the language of the class in Logic, Metaphysics, Theology, 
Sacred Scripture and Canon Law. The reason for adhering to the Latin is 
that by far the greater number of authors, who have written on the above sub- 
jects, use that language as a clearer and better medium for conveying their 
thoughts than is found in any of our modern languages with their constant 
mutations. It is, besides, the language of the Roman Church in her Ritual. 
Tne scholastic j^ear consists of ten months, during which ten hours a day are 
devoted to study and recitations. To secure necessary relaxation and time for 
geiieral reading two days of each week have neither fixed studies nor classes. 
Although the prescribed studies and duties occupj'^ much time, yet many 
students find opportunitj'- for branches of special study. Students, who have 
completed the course and passed the final examination, are presented for 
ordination to the priesthood. They are then assigned to one of the special 
works of the Society, and devote both their abilities and their time without 
any personal pecuniarj^ recompense. The Seminary has a large library of 
Liteiary and Historical and Scientific works in both ancient and modern 
languages. Among the collection are many old folios dating from the infancy 
of the art of printing. 

Mr. Editor : Some remarks about Bentz's bakery in Mr. Hotchkin's last 
article on Old Germantown, having been suppressed on account of its being 
erroneously located, I beg leave to offer the subjoined brief sketch of the 
Bentz family as a substitute : 

Upon the arrival of a ship at the wharf in Philadelphia about the year 
1810, hailing from the Fatherland, and freighted with German emigrants, 
Mr. C. J. VVister and Mr. Joseph Bullock, opposite neighbors and friends, went 
together to the city and selected two j'ouths, Jacob and John Bentz by name, 
to serve them at their homes in Germantown. Mr. Wister took Jacob, aged 



244 GERMANTOWN. 

fourteen years, whilst Mr. Bullock took John aged seven. The boys served 
their masters most faithfully for many years, and Jacob upon coming of age- 
apprenticed himself to Adam Keppel the bread and cake baker par excellence 
of the village at that day. His shop was situated on the Main street nearly 
opposite Bockius's lane — the present Manheim street — and not more than a 
door or two from the spot where Kaupp's confectionery now stands. In course 
of time, Jacob, having served his apprenticeship, married Esther Donne, who 
was likewise a domestic in Mr. Wister's family, and established a bakery for 
himself at the upper end of the town, above the house occupied by John Knorr 
(better known to his fellow townsmen as Johnny K-ner) and near the present 
Tulpehocken street. Being honest and industrious he did a flourishing busi- 
ness at this stand during the remainder of his life. He died, leaving a son 
Jacob, who continued the business of his father. I do not know of any of his 
descendants now living. John Bentz remained with Mr. Bullock until the 
latter's death and then entered Mr. Wister's service with whom he remained 
until the year 1827, when he left Germantown and was lost sight of by his old 
employer. Both of these boys, selected from a shipload of their countrymeiL 
proved admirable in their positions, and grew to be worth}' and respected citi- 
zens. Jacob, being the elder, retained perfectly the use of his native tongue,, 
whilst John, having left the Fatherland so young, lost his altogether. The 
name of Bentz has long since disappeared from Germantown as a surname, as 
far as my knowledge extends. .John Bentz was remarkable for his gastronomic 
powers, which, having been observed, were tested when it was found that he 
had consumed at one meal half a loaf of bread, half a shad, a shoulder of 
mutton and nine potatoes ; and yet he was slight in form, much slighter than 
his brother Jacob who was bj' no means omnivorous. John was but a youth 
when this extraordinary consumjDtion of food was effected ; to what extent his- 
capacity developed in after years is left to conjecture, for we have no record. 
First month, Twelfth, 1S87.' C. J. W. 

In the account of Ancient Germantown, it seems best to give some of the 
main points in Watson's Annals, which have not been before mentioned in 
these papers, to complete the narrative. This is done by the courteous permis- 
sion of Edwin S. Stuart, the publisher of the Annals. 

In the third volume of the Annals, being Willis P. Hazard's Continuation, 
there is a memoir of John Fanning Watson. He was an honest and attentive 
man in business with good judgment. His historical work was his recreation.. 
He was born in 1779. His mother showed him the Flag of Peace, hoisted on 
Market street hill, when he was a babe. His father was named William, and 
his mother's maiden name was Lucy Fanning. She was a noble and accom-' 
plished woman. His father was a volunteer in the sea service in the Revolu- 
tion and also served in a land expedition. J. F. Watson was born, in Batsto,. 
N. J. He became a clerk in Philadelphia and afterward was a clerk in the 
War Department at Washington. He was also a commissary in the army in. 




JOHN F. WATSON, THE ANNALIST,; 
BY PERMISSION OF EDWIN S. STUART,' 
PUBLISHER. 



GERMANTOWN. 245 

Louisiana. Then he embarked in pubUshing in Pliiladelphia, being publishei' 
■of Dr. Adam Clark's Commentaries on the Bible. In 1812, he marrit-d Miss 
Crowell, a descendant of Oliver Cromwell. The name was changed by her 
emigrant ancestors, because of Cromwell's unpopularity in this country. 
"Watson was the faithful cashier of the Bank of Gerinantown for thirty-three 
years. Samuel Hazard printed some of Watson's notes in the Register of 
Pennsylvania. The Annalist delighted to collect the reminiscences of the 
aged. The Annals were first published in 1830. In the beginning of the 
second volume will be found an interesting description of the author's love of 
antiquity and of his toil in collecting material and references to various 
sources as to the great value and importance of such work. Watson also pre- 
pared a history of New York. 

The Historical Societj^ was due to Watson. The Annalist consulted old 
newspapers and court records, interviewed old soldiers and pioneer settlers. 
He collected pictures and autographs. Watson was temperate and fond of 
exercise and gardening, strongly religious and patriotic. He was the origi- 
nator of the First Episcopal Church in Ne'n: Orleans, and was for 30 years a 
communicant of St. Luke's, Germantown. He died in 1860, in his 82d year. 
Rev. Dr. Dorr, at the request of the Historical Society, prepared a memoir of 
liim, from which Mr. Hazard drew the materials for his sketch. The Hon. 
Horatio Gates Jones gave him " a touching eulogj'." Mr. Lossing honored 
him with a memoir in Eminent Americans. 

Mr. Ferdinand -J. Dreer, has permitted me to inspect a large A'olume, part 
manuscript and part scrap-book, in his possession, which shows the patience 
of Watson in accumulating matter. He wrote a clear hand. The Historical 
Society has another volume. 

In the Annals Watson gives the original price of Germantown land as one 
shilling per acre. He describes most of the old homes as plastered inside with 
clay and straw and a finishing coat of lime. Some frames were of logs and 
wattles ; river rushes and clay filled the interstices. In an old house which 
was taken down the grass still preserved its greenness. The houses were one 
story high with gables to the street. Sometimes the front room would be of 
stone and the back one of logs. Hipped roofs were common, forming " a low 
bed chamber." The ends of the houses above the first story were formed of 
boards or shingles and contained " a small chamber window." Many of the 
roofs were tiled. Some log houses were in later times lathed and plastered 
outside. There wei-e half doors and sometimes the upper door had folds. 
The windows formed two doors, opening within, and were originally "set in 
leaden frames with outside frames of wood." As to age, Wishert Levering, 
" a first settler, " died at Roxborough, in 1744, aged 109. " Jacob Snyder lived 
to be 97." 

The first meetings of the Friends were in Dennis Conrad's (Tennis Kundert) 
in A. D. 1683. The place was near an inn kept by Lesher. Penn preached 
in a house which stood on the site of Dr. George Bensell's residence, and also 



246 GERMANTOWN. 

in Schumaker's house, built in 1686, in Mehl's meadow. When the Friends' 
Meeting House was built, the Abington contribution was chiefly in wheat at 4 
shillings a bushel. " Byberry meeting gave forty bushels of wheat £8, 3s." 
Labor was 3s., 6d., " boards 10s. per thousand, timber 6s. per ton, sawing 10s. 
per hundred." 

The Tunkers from Ephrata, dressed in gray surtouts to which were attached 
hoods for head coverings, looking like Dominican friars, used to make relig- 
ious visits to Germantown " walking silently in Indian file, and with long 
beards ; also girt about the waist, and bare-footed, or with sandals." Old per- 
sons in "Watson's day remembered seeing forty or fiftj^ of these people in such 
a procession. 

Richard Townsend, who built Roberts's mill in Church lane, was once mow- 
ing and a young deer came near, and when he stumbled by accident the deer 
being frightened ran against a sapling and was stunned, taken and killed to 
the relief of the family who were sometimes straitened for meat in their 
secluded home in the woods. 

There was a tradition that Courts were held in Germantown earlier than in 
Philadelphia, but the original patent of Penn is dated in London, 1689. It 
" passed under the great seal of the province of Pennsylvania " in 1691. A 
market was to be kept " every sixtli day, in such places as the provincial charter 
doth direct!" The government of Germantown began in 1691, and lasted fif- 
teen years. About 1720 Mr. John Wister bought 500 acres of land at two 
shillings per acre. He afterward sold part of it at £3 per acre, which lie 
thought wonderful. In Watson's time it was " worth $200 to $300 per acre." 
Labor sixty years before the annalist wrote was 3s. per day in summer, and 
2s., 6d. in winter. Hickory wood cost 10s. to lis. a cord ; oak, 8s. to 9s. In 
Watson's day hickory was $8, and oak $6, " and has been $2 higher." 

In 1738 a tax of IJd. per pound was laid on Philadelphia county for " wolves 
and crows destroyed, and for Assemblymen's wages." The Assemblymen got 
5s. per day. • 

An aged man told AVatson of Indian colonies, of twenty to thirty persons, 
which he had seen in Logan's woods, or on a " field southeast of Grigg's place.'' 
They would make huts and abide a year, selling baskets, ladles and fiddles. 
Thej' shot birds and squirrels with bows and arrows. The huts were made 
" of four upright saplings, with crotch limbs at top." Cedar bushes and 
branches formed sides and tops. In winter the fire was on the ground in the 
middle of the hut. In Reuben Haines's house, "built by Dirk Johnson, a 
chief and his twenty Indians have been sheltered and entertained." Anthony 
Johnson, when a boy, saw near two hundred Indians on Jno. Johnson's place 
in a wood near the wheelwright's shop. He saw them jump fences almost in 
a horizontal position and jet alight on their feet. They shot at marks. 
Edward Keimer imitated their exploits closely. Johnson often saw beaver 
and beaver dams. Some of the early Indians were buried in the Concord 
graveyard. Wild pigeons were abundant in early times. 



GERMANTOWN. 247 

The people had their superstitions. " Old Shrunk," the conjuror, told fort- 
unes and instructed people where to dig for monej'. It was thought that the 
pirates of Black Beard's time had hidden treasure near the Delaware and 
Schuylkill. 

Women rode horses .with two panniers to market. Women also " carried 
baskets on their heads and the men wheeled wheelbarrows, being six miles to 
market! " Man and wife would ride on one horse " to church, funerals and 
visits. The woman sat on a pillion behind the man." The better houses had 
balconies in front. At the close of day women could be seen sewing and 
knitting. The women generally attended church "in short gowns and petti- 
coats and with check or white flaxen aprons. The young men had their 
heads shaved and wore white caps ; in summer they went without coats, wear- 
ing striped trousers and barefooted ; the old Friends wore wigs." Jamb stoves 
were used, but were not very good heaters. 

There was formerly " a tliick woods on the southwest side of the turnpike 
below Naglee's hill, where Skerrett's house now stands, called Logan's swamp 
and woods." "After James Logan's house was built, in 1728, at Stenton, a 
bear of large size came and leaped ever the fence." 

It has been said heretofore that Washington and General Howe both dwelt 
in the celebrated Morris house, opposite Market Square. King William IV, 
of England, then a Prince, made his home there when General Howe resided 
in it. 

" The French West India residents " made gay times in Germantown. They 
dressed in St. Domingo style and the streets heard much French conversation, 
and at night music abounded. There was much shooting of game. 

Pastorius states that there were but four known lawyers of the province in 
his day, and as his opponent in a suit had secured them he was unable to 
bring lawyers from New York, and prayed the Governor and Council to stop 
proceedings and wait " action from the principals in Germany." This was the 
small seed of the great tree of " PhiladeliDhia lawyers," which has borne abun- 
dant and notable fruit. At first the city had no lawj^ers. 

WAR TIMES. 

" Gen. Agnew showed great kindness to old Mrs. Sommers. Col. Bird died 
in Bringhurst's big house, and said to the woman there, ' woman, pray for me, 
I leave a widow and four children.' " The British took up fences and made 
huts, cutting down buckwheat and putting it on the rails, with ground above 
it. B. Lehman goes to the city and sells " his old hen for 1 dollar ! " He sees 
men come stealthily from Skippack with butter in boxes on their backs, which 
they sold at 5s. They worked their way through the woods, which ran near 
the city. Lehman was out in the militia. When paid $200 in paper money 
for two months' services, he gave $100 for a sleigh ride, and $100 for a pair of 
shoes. During the war business was pro.strated. " Not a house was roofed or 



248 GERMANTOWN. 

mended in Germantown in five or six years." People often had to borrow 
money, if they had substance to secure a loan. 

■ In 1841, a "very curiously wrought powder-horn" was found in digging in 
the lot of the new Lutheran Church. It was lost at the battle of Germantown 
by Elijah Lincoln, of Windham, Conn. The owner's name (E. Gray) was en- 
graved on it, and the Germantown Telegraph published an account of the 
finding of it. It contained a sketch of Boston, Bunker Hill, the British fleet, 
etc. Ebenezer Gray and William Hove}', the maker of the horn, and Elijah 
Lincoln, were volunteers, and while encamped near Bunker Hill, the horn 
was engraved. Gray became a Colonel, and gave the horn to Lincoln, who 
promised to use it faithfully, and did so. In Germantown it was [)ulled from 
him by the grasp of a djnng comrade, who was drawing a load from it. The 
publisher of The Democrat, in Columbia county. Pa., had been engaged in a 
pension claim for Lincoln and knew the facts. Col. Gray's widow and son 
and daughter, were then living in Windham. His grandson received the horn. 

In the battle, fathers placed children with the women in cellars. In C. M. 
Stokes's house, which belonged to 'Squire Ferree, two dozen terrified and 
weeping women were gathered. George Knorr, with other boj's,'went toward 
the cit)' but stopped on meeting Hessians at Nicetown. A "cannon ball 
struck a tree at Haines's brewerj', as they passed, and then went before them 
down the street." Some boys went to the tops of the houses, and into the 
streets to see the battle. They saw the tall Virginians, under Col. Matthews, 
brought as prisoners, from Kelley's place, and ]>\xi in the Market Square 
Church. The mouths of prisoners and guards were blackened with powder 
in biting off cartridges. The Virginians had captured some British in the 
fog, and their glad hurrah brought a larger British force on them and resulted 
in their own capture. 

Dr. George de Benneville, of Branchtown, was 16 years old at the time of 
the battle, and saw much of it. Highlanders and British cavalry were quartered 
near him. " They were always cheerful, and always seemed to go gaily and 
confidently into expected fights." The " kilted Scots " kept up with the trot of 
the cavalry. After the battle a wounded British officer met a surgeon and 
said, " I believe it is all over with me, doctor. I have got a mortal wound !" 
The doctor examined him in the street and replied, " Don't fear, I shall save 
you — go on." He passed on renovated. The surgeon's work at such times 
was important and praiseworthy. 

After the British left Germantown a troop of Americans following overtook 
a British surgeon who had dressed the wounds of three American officers in 
Widow Hess's house. They intended to arrest him, but W. Fryhoffer told of 
his good work, and he was permitted to walk to the citj', while the officers 
were liberated. 

John Ashmead, aged 12, saw various groups of the dead. At Chew's house 
there were about thirty dead soldiers whom citizens were beginning to bury. 
There was blood in every room of the house. ,A six pounder had come in at 



GERMANTOWN. 249 

a front window and passed through four partitions and out of the back of 
the house. 

A boy told Watson that he brought flour from the mill to a person in Ger- 
mantown, who sold it at high prices to women who came from the city. They 
carried it home in small quantities, concealing it about their persons. Watson 
thinks that they probably sold it again. They " retin-ned with salt, etc." 
Flour brought $8 per hundredweight in Philadelphia. Boys would carry it in 
by bj^-roads for fear of losing the precious burden. 

On a secret inva.sion by the British at midnight, Mr. Lush, acting wagoner 
for the American gunpowder train was warned, and had his team ready. He 
rode down to reconnoitre, and was caught, but his wagoner saw the approach 
of the enemy, and dashed along the streets waking the people, and exposing 
the British. 

John Ashmead saw the British army pass along Main street " at their first 
entry." He sat in the porch. The order of the army was good, with its 
officers, and red coated soldiers, and refugees in green, and Highlanders and 
Grenadiei's with burnished arms. Colors were not displayed and there was 
no music. There was no violence. Some asked for milk or cider, and his 
father gave it, until the cider grew low, and a j^oung officer asked for some, 
and when told the acts of the soldiers he had a succession of sentinels placed 
to guard the house. 

Isaac Wood, on John Andrews's place, on Lime Kiln road, was killed while 
looking at the battle from his cellar door. The fight was on the side of Dr. 
Betton's woods. 

Watson gives the case of William Dolbey, who had a soldier killed beside 
him on the Duval place, and became disgusted with war and left the army 
and joined the Friends, as did Watson's friend, John Bajdie, at Trois rivers. 
Hearing a soldier as he entered battle pray for the salvation of those who 
should fall he felt unprepared for death, and made up his mind to kill no one, 
and fired above the mark. 

John Smith saw an American trooper with his horse pursued by a troop, 
who hid himself and horse in a cider mill on John Wister's place, and escaped 
his pursuers. 

The Hessian officers had wicker doors in their huts, " with a glass light, and 
interwoven with plaited straw ; they had also chimneys made of grass sod." 
A Hessian became Washington's coachman, having abandoned the British 
army. 

Germantown boj'S played war, "making three forts (upper, middle and 
lowei-), along the town." They had " embankments, and fought with stones, 
under a show of wooden guns." An American officer once called out in 
passing, " who commands there ?" The reply was " Proctor," which was the 
officer's name. 

An eye witness thus described the British Army : " The trim and graceful 
Grenadier, the careless and half savage Highlander, with his flowing 



250 GERMANTOWN. 

tartaned robes and naked knees ; then the immovably stiff German — here a 
regiment of Hessians, — and there slaves of Anspach and Waldeck, the first 
sombre as night, the second as gaudy as noon. Here dashed a party of dra- 
goons and there scampered a party of Yagers. The British officers gay in 
spirit and action and the German officers stiff in motion and embroidery ; the 
whole forming a moving kaleidoscope of colors and scenery." 

Jacob Miller, when a boy of sixteen, saw General Howe ride up from Stenton 
at the beginning of the battle and stop near Lorain's and heard him say, 
"What shall we do? We are certainly surrounded." He and his officers 
then rode on up town. Miller used to get into the city to procure family 
necessities by following the rear of British parties which came out. He would 
return " by by-paths and back roads." The boys used to collect handfuls of 
bullets. Miller used to see Captain Allen, who acted as a scout, as did the 
officers Dover and Howard. On Taggart's ground he saw Pulaski's cavalry 
in " whitish uniform " in a grand display in a mock battle. 

After the battle of Germantown the English followed " the Americans eight 
miles on the Ski^jpack road, fifteen and a half miles from Philadelphia, into 
Whitpaine township, as far as the Blue Bell." There was much confusion 
there among the Americans. The dead and dying were there and women 
and children ran to learn the fate of fathers, husbands and brothers, hoping 
to meet them alive. General Nash, Colonel Boyd, Major White and another 
officer died in the retreat and were buried in the Mennonite burying ground, 
at their church " in Towamensing township, a place beautifully shaded with 
forest trees." Watson visited the spot and says, " We have since given them 
a monument there." The annalist deserves the highest praise for his constant 
efforts to honor the tombs of the patriotic dead. 

Washington's quarters on the Skippack road were at Norris's, which place 
was afterward the country seat of Dr. James, of Philadelphia. He also had 
his quarters at the farm-house of Jacob Wamjsole, father of " Isaac Wampole, 
the eminent city scrivener," three-quarters of a mile from the Mennonite 
burying ground. " That family had known that the General was in the 
practice of retiring to pray." General Cobb stated that, " throughout the war 
it was understood in his military family that he gave a part of every day to 
private prayer and devotion." The General was precise and punctual at 
breakfast, and expected his aids, Cobb, Hamilton and Humphreys to be await- 
ing him. He left the papers he wished prepared by them and rode to visit 
the troops. He was not familiar in his intercourse witli the officers. General 
Cobb enjoyed a laugh, but knew but one officer, Colonel Scammel, who could 
awake Washington's laughter. The General rode about with a black servant 
and a guard, and was attended by some officers. 

GENERAL REMINISCENCES. 

Thomas Jefferson once occupied the' house in which Watson dwelt. John 
De Braine, a French-German astronomer, had lived there still earlier. 



GERMANTOWN. 251 

The German language was in old time used by Germantown boys in their 
plays. In Watson's day, Mr. Richards preached in German once a month. 
The Methodists first started ' preaching in English in the school-house. 
During the British occupation, Hessian chaplains preached in the German 
churches. 

General Washington used to walk the town, and ride in his phaeton and on 
horseback. He and his family attended English preaching in the Market 
Square Church, sitting in the first pew. He also attended the German 
services. His house was closed on Sunday till the door opened and he came 
out of it on his way to church. In leaving for Carlisle, he rode out quietly to 
avoid ostentation. He was civil to all and was free to converse at Henry 
Fraley's carpenter shop, and Bringhurst's blacksmith shop. These men had 
been his soldiers. Lady Washington was beloved by the people. 

Watson recalls the sombre houses with little windows of old Germantown 
and thought it improved in his memory. Pavements and trees were new 
benefits. He states that Newark workmen drew the coach business from Ger- 
mantown by lesser prices. 

Plaster of Paris which stimulated the growth of clover, was introduced for 
sale about 1780, by Abraham Rex, of Chestnut Hill, and Leonard Stone- 
burner, of Germantown. 

The Germantown turnpike was largely due to the energy of Casper Haines. 

Wagon loads of hay sometimes passing on a trot showed good locomotion 
when a turnpike came. 

By a spy-glass the bombarding of the river forts was seen from German- 
town, as John Miller's journal, quoted by Watson shows. The following- 
entry of Miller evinces natural, as well as unnatural disturbance : Nov. 27th, 
1877. "There appeared a great and surprising northern light, as red as 
blood." The passage of the British army from Philadelphia to Whitemarsh 
to surprise Washington, and its return, is noted in the journal. They went 
out on the night of the 4th of December and returned on the 8th. On De- 
cember 6th it is remarked that the enemy and the American light horse 
alternately patroled the streets of Germantown. 

Those who fled to New Jersey from Philadelphia under the alarm of war 
were sometimes glad to sleep in barns there. Some who went "to Delaware 
and along the Chesapeake " were the next summer driven out by fresh alarms. 

John F. Watson presented his manuscript book of " Annals and Recollec- 
tions" to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1830. A part of this 
volume appears in the printed volumes of the Annals. The handwriting is 
small and neat. The author gathered together such miscellaneous facts on 
all topics as came within his observation. Sometimes the full page boils over 
in a writing up and down the margin of the book crossways with the main 
writing. It is striking to read the heading : " Facts communicated by Doct. 
B. Franklin." The manuscript book at times becomes a scrap book, and thus 
information was accumulated. The picture of an Egyptian mummy from a 



252 GERMANTOWN. 

newspaper is a startling contrast to the written pages. A pen and ink picture 
of Billy Brown, a colored man of Frankford, who was ninety-three years old, 
also helps the miseellany. Watson's' mind was receptive, and he was very 
anxious to give information in every possible way. A medal or coin is out- 
lined on the page, as well as William Penn's old bookcase. Continental 
money is pasted in, and also a specimen of the silk made by the remarkable 
poetess, business woman and legal arbiter, Susannah Wright, of Columbia, Pa. 
Dr. Franklin, when in the old country, corresponded with her about the silk 
which she sent abroad to be woven and which caused an interest in Europe. 
A piece of Dr. Franklin's velvet coat is also pasted into this wondrous book. 
Some pearl- colored silk made by a daughter of Reuben Haines, of German- 
town, and sent to England to be wovgn, is here. There is a piece of red 
" Garden Sattin," which was presented to some one by the Bishop of Worcester. 
There are also two bits of white silk which shone at the Meschianza — one as 
the cuff of Mrs. Hamilton. There is a letter from Whitefield to Dr. William 
Shippen, the elder, which is yellow with age, and another from J. Wesley, 
and another from Lafayette, and one from Joseph Bonaparte. Bonaparte 
wrote in French. Lafayette's letter is in English, and written from New York. 

OUR PICTURE EXPLAINED. 

[To the Editor of the Telegraph.] 

I am at length able to locate, unquestionabh^, the picture introduced in 
connectien with Mr. Hotchkin's article on " Old Germantown " in the Tele- 
graph of March 30th ult., the whole scene, though long since radically 
changed, distinctly presenting itself to my mind's eye. The point of view 
selected by the artist (probably William Brittain, drawing teacher at the Ger- 
mantown Academy in 1832-3, to whom we are indebted for nearly all the 
surviving sketches of Old Germantown) is the north corner of the present 
Laurel street and Germantown road, the former then known as Bringhurst's 
alley, a family of that name living there. The field inclosed by the board 
fence, a low piece of ground, was called Bensell's meadow. Dr. Bensell, whose 
residence at the south corner of Sclioolhouse lane and Main street is seen in 
the distance, being its owner. The old house with its gable facing the road, 
adjoining the meadow on the southeast, was occupied by old Peggy Wolf for a 
candy store. The large house on the same side, whose gable is seen above the 
surrounding community of buildings, in the distance, is the De la Plain house, 
afterwards owned by Mr. Charles Stokes, and recently removed to make way 
for the ofiBce of the Germantown Mutual Fire Insurance Company. To the 
left of this the low steeple of the old Market Square Church appears just above 
the tops of the trees, surmounted by the weathercock made a target of by the 
" Paxton boys " in 1764. This venerable building is supplanted by the un- 
sightly brick church now used as a place of worship by a Presbyterian con- 
gregation. 



GERMANTOWN. 253 

The Germantown road, when converted into a turnpike, was necessarily re- 
graded, and at certain points was very much raised. Bensell's meadow was 
one of these points, in consequence of which two steps were required to de- 
scend from the sidewalk (there were no pavements at that day) to the floor of 
Peggy Wolf's shop. This accounts for its sunken appearance. No vestige 
of the objects which this picture represents remains to tell its tale at the 
present day. All has been swept away by the ruthless hand of innovation, 
miscalled, improvement. c. j. w. 

Germantown, 4tk mo. 3d, 1887. 

EEVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 

In Robert Morton's Diary in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. I, 
No. 1, 1877, it is stated that Major Balfour, Aid-de-camp of General Howe, was 
much enraged that the people about Germantown did not warn the British 
army of the approach of Washington's army. Under October 18th, 1777, he 
notes : " A smart platoon firing this ev'g about Germantown." " Nov. 24th. 
People in expectation that Germantown will be shortly burnt." On December 
4th, the evening march of Howe and his army through Germantown to Chest- 
nut Hill is recorded. In William Black's Journal, in the same volume, Mr. 
Strettel is spoken of as taking Mr. Black to Germantown where he had a little 
country summer residence. He describes the place in 1744 as " a continued 
row of houses on each side of a public road, for more than a mile and a half 
the inhabitants are chiefly Dutch, and has a very good church with organs in 
the Town." There is an interesting account of his taking tea with James 
Logan and the Indian Commissioners at Stenton, and a notice of Logan's fine 
library. Black was secretary of the Commissioners, appointed by Governor 
Gooch, of Virginia, to unite with those of Pennsylvania and Maryland, in 
treating with the Iroquois about the lands west of the Alleghenies. 

THE GERMANS. 

Lawrence Hendricks, a German, says of his fellow Germans, that they were 
rugged, and could endure hardships. They wore heavy shoes with iroji nails, 
and were zealous in serving God with prayer and readings, and innocent as 
lambs and doves. This description of Swiss Germans in the Rev. Edward 
McMinn's Life of Henry Antes, as he says, may have answered in the case of 
some of the American-German settlers. For this writer's account of the 
Germans and Germantown, see Chapter 3, of the Life of Antes. Mr. McMinn 
states that one chimney in the center of the building was a characteristic of 
the German architecture. For an interesting description of a simple Dunker 
Church and its service, and love-feast, and feet-ivashing, the reader maj^ turn 
to a volume entitled " Katy of Catoctin," by George Alfred Townsend, Chapters 
8 and 9, pp. 67-88. 



254 GERMANTOWN. 

In Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg's Journal, translated by Dr. H. H. 
Muhlenberg, we find an account of the visit of the Paxton Boys, in 1764, to 
Germantown. See collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 
Vol. I, p. 73, etc. The butchers and other mechanics organized a troop of 
horses in the emergency, and marched through the town with a trumpet. 
Even the Quakers took up arms. The Rev. Dr. Wrangel, Provost of the 
Swedish Churches, reasoned with the Paxton Boys, and an amnesty finally 
took place, and the Bethlehem Indians in Germantown, who were the object 
of the hostile expedition, were spared. 

In the volume above referred to, Deborah Logan writes a letter to Major 
Alex. Gordon, in which she speaks of a visit Col. Thomas Forrest made to 
her, and mentions his bravery and his service to the American cause at the 
Battle of Trenton. She also tells of Col. Pickering's visit to Germantown, to 
review the battle-field, and of the kindness of the Philadelphia women to the 
wounded Americans, who were carried to the lobbies of the State House. 
Sometime after she counted seventeen burning houses from the roof of her 
mother's house in Chestnut street. She knew that one of these houses was 
Fairhill, built by her Grandfather Norris, and occupied by "the excellent 
John Dickinson, who married her cousin." The houses were fired by the 
British. 

Watson says in the same volume that Mrs. D. Logan saw George Washing- 
ton's mother at Fredericksburg when she was eighty-five years old. She told 
her of her care in forming the minds of her children, and that she had sent 
George forty miles from home to the best school she could. " She lived in a 
one-story cottage, and declined to live at Mount Vernon." 

Watson says that Mrs. Rev. Dr. Blair, of Germantown, once made the quiet 
Washington laugh heartily. Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Washington were present. 
The wife said : " General, surely you are no longer yourself" " True," said 
he, " I am now indeed Mrs. Blair." 

When Watson wrote Washington's door was " in James Stokes's bank house 
in Germantown." On October 5th Dr. Muhlenberg notes that at night a party 
from the Germantown battle knocked and asked admittance, but were persuaded 
by the " widow Z." to go on. 

Germantown Court Records are given in the same volume. The first Court 
of Record was held in 1691 in the public meeting house. Pastorius was 
bailiff. The indenture of a "servante girle" and an apprenticeship and a 
promise, under complaint, to finish a barn, enliven the records of 1692. In 
1694 a warning is given against those who pull off papers which give 
notices of intended marriages and things lost and found. Charges of menacing 
a constable, beating a hog, and assault, and questions about roads and fences, 
and neglecting jury duty, and hogs (spelled hoggs) at large, and work on roads, 
are spread on the records. In 1701 the sheriff takes up two sows and three 
pigs with no apparent owner. The Court orders that he shall have them cried 
on the next public fair day, and if an owner appears the sheriff is to have half 



GERMANTOWN. 255 

and the owner half, " otherwise to yoke the first half, according to law, and let 
them run for the owner." The Sheriff also took up a horse and an old mare, 
for which the Court declared that he should be paid. Here is a Coroner's 
verdict: "We, the jury, find that through carelessness the cart and the lime 
killed the man ; the wheel wounded his back and head and killed him." One 
case is deferred because the plaintiff urges that it is Holy Innocents' Day, and 
his conscience demands the change in tinae, and that the witnesses will not 
come. In a sale the striking'name Cathalintje Vande Woestjine appears. In 
1706 a petition of the Oil Mill Company on Walter Simens's land is noted. 

THE PAUL HOUSE. 

On the southeast corner of Main and Gorgas streets is the house of the Paul 
family. This stone, pebble-dashed house, with its porch, is antique. The 
door-jamb contained bullet marks of the Revolutionary times, while a tree in 
the rear was once pierced with a cannon ball. In plowing leaden bullets were 
often unearthed here. The stump of an ancient tree stands inside the fence 
adorned with flowers. The date 1707 marks the time of its planting by a 
Gorgas. 

.An old carpenter shop riddled with bullets once occupied a portion of the 
lawn of the Carpenter 'place. 

Henry Rittenhouse owned the Paul House before the last-named family 
bought it in 1812. The Gorgas family built it. Henry K. Paul, who bought 
the house, was a saddler. His shop was in the hardware store. He was one 
of the early subscribers to the Germantown Telegraph. 

Mr. Henry C. Paul, opposite Carpenter's place, was, when a boy, in front of 
Chew's house in 1824 when Lafayette made his visit and shook hands with the 
military company of Germantown Blues in the street. 

The Bayard House, at No. 5519 Main street, is a long stone mansion 
opposite the Carpenter property. The Bayards, who are relatives of the Bayards 
of Delaware, one of whom is now a Cabinet officer, bought this property from 
Marshal Slocum, who purchased it of John Johnson, who bought it of George 
Hesser, who built the pleasant old house just after the battle of Germantown. 
He had dug the cellar before the battle, but as there was a sharp skirmish around 
the spot and several were killed, they placed the dead in the newly dug cellar 
and filled it up as a general grave. This was about where the carriage gate 
now stands. 

Mr. Hesser's son, then an old man, gave this account to the Bayards some 
twenty-five or thirty years ago, when he came east from his home in Minnesota 
on a visit and called to see the ancestral place. The barn has the date 1777 
upon it. I am indebted to C. M. Bayard, the present occupant of the house, 
for its history. 



256 GERMANTOWN. 

FEANCIS DANIEL PASTORIUS. 

" The German Town of which I spoke before, 
Which is at least in length one mile and more, 
Where lives High German people and Low Dutch, 
Whose trade in weaving linnen cloth is much, 
Here grows the Flax, as also you may. know, 
That from the same they do divide the tow." 

[From Richard Frame's Poem on Pennsylvania, printed by Wm. Bradford :n i6c)2.'\ 

Watson calls Francis Daniel Pastorius " a chief among the first settlers, " and 
speaks of his scholarship and his writing Latin in a good hand. He styles the 
manuscript book of writings and selections which he left, " The Bee ; " it should 
be " The Bee-Hive." He once owned all Chestnut Hill. In 1687 he was a 
member of the Assembly ; he died about 1720. James Haywood gave an 
explanation to Watson of the German pamphlet by Pastorius in the Cambridge 
Library called " A Description of Pennsylvania." It was printed in Holland. 

Holm, in his history of New Sweden, faults Pastorius for his account of the 
motives of the Swedes in their settlement of the Delaware river. In the fourth 
volume of the Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Pastorius's 
account of this State is given with this title : " A Peculiar Geographical 
Description of the lately Discovered Province of Pennsylvania, Situated on the 
Frontiers of This Western World, America." Lewis H. Weiss translated this 
description from the German. This old book makes the aboriginees giants ten 
feet high. New England is styled Nova Anglia, and the city of Cambridge is 
noted as the place w^here the Bible was jirinted in the Indian language. 

The river Delaware is spelled Delavarra, and Maryland, Marieland. He 
describes the city lots of the Frankford Company and speaks of the scarcitj' of 
money in the Province and the lack of goods for trade or exportation to 
Europe. He asks that an iron stove be sent him. Here is the account of 
Germantown: " As relating to our newly laid out town, Germanopolis or Ger- 
mantown : it is situated on a deep and very fertile soil, and is blessed with an 
abundance of fine springs and fountains of fresh water. The main street is 
sixty and the cross streets forty feet in width. Every family has a plot 
of ground for yard and garden three acres in size." " The river Delavarra," 
he writes, " is so beautiful a stream as not to have its equal among all the rivers 
of Europe." Of this section he adds : " The springs and fountains of water 
are innumerable." " The woods and copse are filled with beautiful birds of 
great variety, which proclaim their Creator's praises in their pleasantest manner. 
There is, besides, a great abundance of wild geese, ducks, turkej^s, quails, 
pigeons, partridges and manj'' other sorts of game." Frankford already had 
" several good mills, a glass house, pottery, and some stores and trading houses." 
Pastorius says that the windows of his town house w'ere made of oiled paper, 
as glass was wanting. 

The late John William Wallace, President of the Historical Society of Penn- 
sylvania, in an article on " Early Printing in Philadelphia," in the Society's 



GERMANTOWN. 257 

Magazine (Vol. IV, p. 434), gives from the late Nathan Kite, a record from 
Friends' Philadelphia Meeting in 1696, showing that Daniel Pastorius was 
willing to manage a printing press, which it was proposed to bring from 
England, but the arrangement was not carried out, as he engaged in school 
teaching. 

Writing of the climate, Pastorius says : " The air is pure and serene, the 
summer is longer and warmer than it is in Germany, and we are cultivating 
many kinds of fruits and vegetables, and our labors meet with rich reward." 

On the other hand, Dr. Rush said of the climate of Philadelphia, that it had 
the humidity of Great Britain in Spring, the heat of Africa in Summer, the 
temperature of Italy in .June, the sky of Egypt in Autumn, the snows of Norwaj^, 
and ice of Holland during Winter, the tempests to a certain degree of the West 
Indies in each season, and the variable winds of Great Britain in every month. — 
See Brissot de Warville's Travels in the United States. ' 

The truth is that men estimate a climate according to their disposition and 
by comparison with their experience of other places. 

In Penn's Account of the Province of Pennsylvania for emigrants, he says : 
" The place lies six hundred miles nearer the sun than England." In a letter, 
he says : " As to outward things, we are satisfied, the land is good, the air clear 
and sweet, the springs plentiful, a;nd provision good and easy to come at, an 
innumerable quantity of wild fowl and fish, in fine, here is what an Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob would be well contented with, and service enough for God, for 
the fields are white for the harvest. Oh, how sweet is the quiet of these parts, 
freed from the anxious troublesome solicitations, hurries and perplexities of 
woeful Europe." Scharf and Westcott's Philadelphia, Vol. I, p. 105. 

Dr. Nicholas More writes to William Penn from Green Spring, his estate 
near Somerton, above Bustleton, that enemies of the new Colony have made 
evil reports: "As if we were ready to famish, and that the land is so barren, 
the climate so hot, that English grain, roots and herbs do not come to maturity, 
and what grows, to be little worth." He says that Penn knows the untruth of 
this, and that since Penn's departure, God has further blessed their " handy 
work." 

As to live stock, we read " of cattle we have great abundance, but for want 
of proper accommodations they roam at large for the present." 

The Indians preferred wampum strings in trade to silver coin, as they could 
not well detect counterfeits or calculate its value in relation to wampum. 

Spanish and English coin circulated among the new settlers. Precious stones 
were lacking and were not desired, as they had been abused in other places for 
pride and ostentation. 

At first, provisions were obtained from the Jersej'-s at high prices, later on, 
Pennsylvania had enough to use and a considerable surplus to sell. There 
were mills, brick-kilns and tile ovens. Manufactures were starting, and fairs 
were held to encourage barter and keep money from going abroad." 



258 GERMANTOWN. 

Pastorius thought that the Indians anointed their children with the fat of 
bears and other animals to make them dark. He describes the Indians as 
honest and faithful in promises and hospitable to strangers and faithful to 
death to friends. 

He once saw four Indians enjoying a feast of boiled pumpkin sitting on the 
ground, with sea-shells for spoons, aud the leaves of a tree for plates and was 
struck with their content with simple fare. The Indians listened to teaching 
concerning the blessed Saviour's life and death, with emotion, and behaved 
respectfully at church service. Pastorius and his fellow colonists wished aid 
to further their eternal welfare and the pious German prays for God's blessing 
on his undertaking. 

Pastorius says that the Germans built a little chajDel in Germantown in 
1686. 

In directing emigrants as to the mode of reaching this land the work in 
review stated that from April to the fall vessels sailed from England to Pennsyl- 
vania frequently, " principally from the port of Deal." The day of sailing was 
not fixed and the emigrant had to watch his opportunity. When thirty-five 
or forty passengers were collected a vessel was sent out. A grown man paid 
£6 passage money. Pastorius sailed from Deal on June 7th, A. D. 1683, with 
four male and two female servants. There were eighty passengers. The food 
given was poor. Pastorius thought it well to advise passengers to withhold a 
part of the fare till America was reached to force a fulfillment of contract. He 
advised persons to sail for Philadelphia direct and not for Upland (i. e., Chester), 
to avoid " many and grievous molestations." On August 16th the American 
continent was sighted, and the capes of Delaware entered on the 18th. New- 
Castle and Upland were passed on the 20th and Philadelphia reached that 
evening. William Penn and his secretary welcomed thenew comers, and Penn 
made Pastorius " his confidential friend." Pastorius adds : " I am frequently 
requested to dine with him, where I can enjoy his good counsel and edifying 
conversations." Penn asked him to dine with him twice weekly, and declared 
his love and friendship to him and the German nation. 

Pastorius wished that he could have some stalwart Tyrolians to throw down 
the gigantic forest trees. He declares labor is needful in the colony, as well as 
money. The Indians were used as laborers, but were not desirous of steady 
toil. 

Samuel W. Pennypacker, Esq., sent to " Notes and Queries " in the Pennsyl- 
vania Magazine of History, Vol. IV, p. 253, a birthday ode to John Penn, 
signed by those believed to be the scholars of Pastorius in Philadelphia. It is 
in Pastorius's manuscript book, entitled " The Bee-Hive." I give an extract : 

" God bless the child (we young ones cry) 

And add from time to time 
Ta William Penn's posterity 

The like ! Here ends our Rime, 
But fervent prayers will not end 



GERMANTOWN. 259 

Of honest men for thee 
And for thy happy government 
With whom we all agree." 

(Signed.) Zechariah Whitpaine, Israel Pemberton, Robert Francis, John 
White, Samuel Carpenter, Jr., Joh. Sam. Pastorius, for themselves and in the 
behalf of their schoolfellows. 

When Samuel Shoemaker, a country resident of Germantown, had an inter- 
view wdth George the Third at Windsor, under the guidance of his friend, 
Benjamin West, the King asked him why the Province of Pennsylvania 
improved more than neighboring provinces, some of which had been earlier 
settled. Mr. Shoemaker politely replied to this German King that it was due 
to the Germans, and the King as politely answered that the improvement was 
principally due to the Quakers. (See Shoemaker's Diary, Pennsylvania Maga- 
zine of History, Vol. II, p. 38.) Both these classes were good and reliable 
settlers. The King was pleased that Mr. Shoemaker could speak German. 
The Queen wept when he spoke of the death of his children, showing a warm 
heart. Shoemaker thought that so kind a husband and so good a father as 
George the Third could not be a tyrant. 

Governor Thomas, a deputy of the Penns to the Assembly in 1738, speaks 
strongly of the benefit Pennsylvania derived from her German settlers. 

For an account of the effect of William Penn's travels in Holland and Ger- 
many in bringing emigrants to Pennsylvania, though that was not the object 
of the tour, see " William Penn's Travels in Holland and Germany in 1677," 
by Professor Oswald Seidensticker, of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn- 
sylvania Magazine of History, Vol. II, p. 237, etc. 

Dr. Rush quotes Tacitus concerning German villages to the effect that spaces 
were left between buildings either on account of danger in fire or " unskillful- 
ness in architecture." He refers to the fact that few houses in Germantown are 
connected with each other. 

The Doctor in his " Manners of the Germans of Pennsylvania," says that our 
State " is indebted to the Germans for the principal part of her knowledge in 
horticulture."— [Scharf & Westcott's Philadelphia, Vol. 2, p. 896.] 

A friend furnishes the following information : 

" In the German work of Seidensticker, which I obtained from the Philadel- 
phia Library, which is a most excellent history of the early settlers of German- 
town, and particularly of the noted man, Franz Daniel Pastorius, I find in 
reference as to his house the first mention on page 39, where it is said : ' His 
first temporary home in Philadelphia was of the following dimensions, namely, 
thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide, the window panes, in consequence of the 
scarcity of glass, he pasted over with oil paper, and over the front door he 
wrote these lines : Parva domus sed amAca bonis procul este propliani.' All of 
which on the occasion of a visit from the Governor was a source of great 
amusement to him ; and he encouraged him in the further construction of a 
building. 



260 GERMANTOWN. 

" I take it on page 49, that the settlement of Germantown is described as 
follows : ' Through the middle of the town a street sixty feet wide was laid out, 
planted on both sides with peach trees. Each house had a vegetable and flower 
garden to the extent of three acres, and the street intersecting at right angles 
was forty feet wide, and at the crossing of the sixty-feet-wide street was the 
market place. The fields for the cultivation of the crops laid to the North and 
South of the town, and the length of this settlement on this sixty-feet street 
was supposed to be one mile.' 

" Pastorius was elected burgomaster of Germantown the first year when it 
was declared a town in 1691, and continued till 1692 ; then again in 1696 to 
1697. 

" Pastorius was married on the 16th of November, 1688, to Enriecke Kloster- 
mann, the daughter of Dr. Johann Klostermann, of Mulheim, ontheruhr(river). 
By this marriage he had two sons, Johann Samuel, born March 30, 1690, and 
Heinrich, born April 1, 1692. 

"In the year 1698 Pastorius was elected master of the Quaker school in 
Philadelphia, which position he held till the year 1700. From letters which 
are still in existence we must conclude that he ruled his regiment of boys with 
great discipline. During that time he lived with his family in Philadelphia, 
and a letter addressed by the two sons to their grandfather in Germany gives 
us the fact that Pastorius must have had a house in Germantown. They 
express a wish that their grandfather would 'come over to this country and 
inhabit their house in Germantown, which has been standing empty, and has 
a vegetable and fruit garden, and prettily planted with flowers.' They also 
state tliat they ' attend school eight hours every day during the week excepting 
Saturday, when they are permitted to remain home in the afternoon.' Not the 
least interesting account of Pastorius is given on page 80* where it states that 
he died early in January 1720, and that his will dated 26th of December, 1719, 
was opened on the 13th of Januarj^, 1720. In it he bequeaths to his oldest son, 
Samuel (the weaver), his fifty acres of land in Germantown, two hundred acres 
on Perkiomen, an English quarto Bible, a gun, and the loom. The youngest 
son, Heinrich, who was a shoemaker, was to receive three hundred acres on 
Perkiomen, an English Bible, a silver watch and all his manuscripts, and the 
tools and appurtenances belonging to his trade. To both sons he bequeathed 
his printed books. To his wife Anna he bequeathed the rest of the land on 
Perkiomen, three hundred and ninety-three acres ; also a disputed title to one 
hundred and three acres. in Germantown ; further, aU the personal effects and 
the debts due him. 

" On page 81 it is said 'that no stone or monument marks his burial place, 
and it is supposed that the founder and pioneer of the German settlers was 
interred in the old Quaker burialground in Germantown.' " 

ANDREAS HARTEL. 



GERMANTOWN. 261 

Whittier thus describes Pastorius : ■ 

" So with his rustic neighbors sitting down, 

The homespun frock beside the scholar's gown, 

Pastorius to the manners of the town 

Added the freedom of the woods, and sought 

The bookless wisdom by experience taught, 

And learned to love his new found home while not 

Forgetful of the old. 

* * * * * « *.* 

Where still the Friends their place of burial keep, 

And century-rooted mosses o'er it creep, 

The Nuremberg scholar and his helpmeet sleep." 

Whillier's Pennsylvania Pilgrim Poems, pp. 346 and ^^.y. 

There is no tombstone or record of Pastorius's burial, but his grave is 
supposed to be in the Friends' graveyard. See quotation from Prof. Oswold 
Seiden sticker on page 358 of the Poems of Whittier. Prof. S. had one article 
in "The Fenn Monthly," and another in "Der Deutsche Pioneer," on Pastorius. 
Pastorius was a rising young lawyer when he laid out Germantown. Samuel 
W. Pennypacker, Esq., in his " Historical and Biographical Sketches," in the 
article on " The Settlement of Germantown," p. 10, says : Pastorius possessed 
probably more literary attainments, and produced more literary work than any 
other of the early emigrants to this province, and he alone, of them all, 
through the appreciative delineation of a New England poet, has a permanent 
place in the literature of our own time." Pennj'^packer states that Pastorius 
first heard of the Frankfort Company in November, A. D. 1682, and bought 
the lands as agent in May and June of the next year. He refers to the Pas- 
torius MSS. in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Francis Daniel Pastorius was the son of Melchior and Magdalena Pastorius. 
His birth-place was Somerhausen, and the date of his birth, September 26, 
1651. When he was seven years of age his father moved to Windsheim, where 
the boy attended school. He was later in the University of Strasburg and the 
High School at Basle, and studied law at Jena. When twenty-two years old 
he disputed publicly on law and philosophy in different languages. He prac- 
ticed law in Frankfort, and traveled for over two years through various coun- 
tries with " a noble young spark, named Von Rodeck." On his coming back 
to Frankfort, in 1681, the Pietists, who were his friends told him of the expected 
emigration to Pennsylvania, and he enthusiastically joined in the movement. 
He says : " A strong desire came upon me to cross the seas with them, and 
there, after having seen and experienced too much of European idleness to 
lead with them a quiet and Christian life." His education and social stand- 
ing gave him the highest position in Germantown. In 1688 he married 
Ennecke Klosterman. He had two sons, John Samuel and Henry. He 
declares that he was " of a melancholy cholerick complexion, and therefore 
gentle, given to sobriety, solitary, studious, doubtful, shamefaced, timorous, 
pensive, constant and true in actions, of a slow wit, with obliviousness," etc. 

" If any one does him wrong 
He can't remember long." 



262 GERMANTOWN. 

He wrote various books. A few were printed and many were lost. He 
wrote to his sons that he was naturalized and therefore they were Englishmen, 
and that he prepared his manuscript book that they might repeatedly study 
it and become expert in the English language. He advises industry. Pastorius 
died September 27, 1719. Pastorius was the first school teacher in Germantown. 
His account book notes the payments of four pence per week for the school 
charges of Samuel Richardson's grandchildren. His influence brought over 
some of the colonists, but when he had persuaded his acquaintance Dotzen at 
Cologne to join him his wife declined, saying that at home she could ride in 
her carriage but in America she might have to milk the cows. So that fam- 
ily did not colonize. Mr. Pennypacker gives the above particulars. Pastorius 
was the only one of the Frankfort Company who came across the sea. 

Dr. J. J. Levick, in his pamphlet on Early Physicians of Philadelphia, refers 
to the scholarship of Pastorius. Watson's Annals contain notices of Pastorius 
which we will summarize. He came from England in the ship America, Cap- 
tain Joseph Wase}^ a courteous and skillful man, and the ship was supposed 
to be chased by the Turks, but the suspected vessel was a French merchant- ' 
man. He was as glad to land in Philadelphia in 1683 as Paul's shipmates to 
go on shore at Melita. The town had three or four small cottages. One was 
that of Edward Drinker, and another that of Sven Sener. Woods and under- 
brush were around, covering ground which is now a magnificent city. Pas- 
torius got lost several times in going from his cave on the water side to the 
liouse of his friend William Hudson, which then was allotted to Cornelius 
Bom, a Dutch baker. He had lately been in London, Paris and Amsterdam 
and the new city did not look verj^ grand in comparison with those places. 
Still, in 1718, he writes in the account : " That God has made of a desert an 
enclosed garden, and the plantations about it a beautiful field." In speaking 
of Pastorius's German pamphlet describing Pennsylvania, Watson styles him 
" a sensible man and a scholar." 

John Johnson's family had a paper dated 1683 concerning a division of 
lands, " executed and witnessed in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, Esq." 
— Watson's Annals, A'^ol. I, p, 171. In this cave the division of Germantown 
lands was made. 

Isaac Norris's garden at Fairhill pleased Pastorius, who was himself dis- 
tinguished in agriculture. He writes to Mrs. Norris and her sisters, daughters 
of Governor Thomas Lloj^d, concerning an article of his on gardening, flowers 
and trees, and says that the garden at Fairhill is the finest that he had then 
seen in the country, filled with rarities, and that the other ladies had a " pretty 
little garden much like his own, containing chiefly cordial, stomachic and 
culinary herbs." Of his own garden he writes : 

" What wonder you then 
That F. D. P. likewise here many hours spend, 
And, having no money, on usury lends 
To 's garden and orchard and vineyard such times, 



GERMANTOWN. 263 

Wherein he helps nature and nature his rhymes, 
Because they produce him both victuals and drink, 
Both med'cine and nosegays, both paper and ink." 

The poetry was written in red and green colors, which the poet says were 
formed of " tamarack and elder leaves." Watson, Vol. I, p. 493. In the same 
volume, pp. 516-518, we have a sketch of Pastorius, which ranks him with 
the " very fine scholars " of early days, Thomas Lloyd, Thomas Storj"-, James 
Logan and John Kelpius. He lived 36 years in the colony. He wrote letters, 
acrostics and poems to the three daughters of Thomas Lloyd — Mrs. Rachel 
Preston, Mrs. Hannah Hill and Mrs. Mary Norris. These ladies were very 
religious and his writings include' many pious thoughts. The articles were 
intended- to be of interest to the parties concerned and their descendants. In 
a poem he recalls how on shipboard in the voyage to this country he, being a 
German, could talk with the Englishman, Thomas Lloyd, in Latin as a com- 
mon tongue. They had a like love of "God's sacred truth." William Penn 
had much influence in keeping Pastorius in America. He conversed with 
him in French, when they were in Philadelphia. Afterward Pastorius 
became a good English scholar, and wrote in that language. He was eight 
weeks at sea. He makes a pun on the word America, using two Arabic words 
meaning bitter and sweet to represent the character of the new country at 
that time. 

Pastorius once owned all of Chestnut Hill. " He was a member of Assembly 
in 1687." Watson, Vol. II, p. 19. 

Pastorius had a little vinej^ard in Germantown where he made experiments 
in grape culture. Watson, Vol. II, p. 431. 

On October 24, 1685, Pastorius, with the Governor's concurrence, laid out 
and planned Germantown or Germauopolis. He speaks of a fertile district, 
with its fresh water springs, and oak, walnut and chestnut trees and abundant 
pasturage. He made the principal street 60 feet wide, and the cross street 40 
feet. He allotted 3 acres for each house and garden ; allowing, however, 6 
acres for his own dwelling house. 

The Bee Hive of Francis Daniel Pastorius begins with an index written in 
his own clear fine hand. The ink is well preserved. The work was com- 
posed for the instruction of his sons. It is now in the possession of Mrs. 
Washington Pastorius, who resides next the Mennonite church, below Pastorius 
street. Seven different languages are used in this wonderful book. The 
■ languages are German, French, English, Latin, Greek, Italian and perhaps 
Dutch. It consists partly of his own ideas, and partly of quotations, including 
proverbs. There are several hundred pages in the volume. One section on 
its title page says: "A Bee may gather honej"^ and a Spider poison from the 
same flower." The date on this heading is 1696. It also quotes Horace's 
Latin expression about mingling the useful and the agreeable. He calls it his 
alphabetical hive. His own poetry is scattered through the book, which has 
a religious tendency throughout, both in prose and poetry. It contains a 



264 . GERMANTOWN. 

genealogy of his family. He disclaims mere pride of birth, and speaks of the 
need of personal character, but he notes for his two sons their relatives in 
High German)', with a prayer that they may attain heavenly bliss by the 
Holy Spirit's aid, and glorify God forever. 
Here is a sample of his humor : 

" In times of old pipes were made of gold, 
(A picture of a flageolet fallows. ) 

But now, this day, they're made of clay." 
(A picture of a tobacco pipe follows.) 

A warning against trusting on the Public Ledger bills of to-day is a quota- 
tion from Pastorius. 

The Bee Hive had various sheets stitched into it at different times, and was 
begun for the extracts of good thoughts from various writers. It is evidentlj'^ 
the work of a scholar. He writes thus : 

" In these seven languages, I this my book do own ; 
Friend, if thou find it, send the same to Germantown. 
The recompense shall be the half of half a crown. 
But tho' 't be no more than half the half of this, 
Pray be content therewith, and think it not amiss; 
Yea, and if when thou comesl my cash perhaps is gone, 
For money is thus scarce, lliat often I have none. 
« A ' cup of drink may do ', or else, alas, thou must 

Trust unto me awhile, as I to others trust, 
Who failing, make me fail — a thing extreme unjust; 
To which I have no lust, but must perforce poor trust." 

The manuscript book, in a time when books were rare, was a sort of enc)'- 
clopedia, in which Pastorius accumulated u.seful knowledge from others 
and also stored his own thoughts. The sons of Mrs. Washington Pastorius, 
one of whom bears the name of his great ancestor, kindly displayed to me the 
striking points in the vast mass of manuscript, which must have cost the 
author many an hour of hard toil. The free use of the printing press to-day 
saves much of this kind of labor, and the typewriter adds its aid. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer of October 7, A. D. 1889, gives this as to a 
German Annual Commemoration in Philadelphia: 

HOW THE DAY OEIGINATED. 

Dr. Ferdinand H. Gross opened the proceedings with a brief speech. He 
said the occasion was one worthy of commemoration. He referred to the Bi- 
centennial Jubilee of the Germans in Germantown in 1833, and spoke of the 
extraordinary splendor and enthusiasm with which it was celebrated. At that 
time the desire manifested itself to celebrate the 6th of October annually as a 
German-American memorial day in memory of the co-operation of the Ger- 
man element in the development of the progress, greatness, wealth and liberty 
of our republic during the two centuries of its existence and in memory of 
those Pilgrim Fathers whose motto was: Freedom of mind, religion and 
labor and a liberal mode of life. 



GERMANTOWN. 265 

Dr. Oswald Seidensticker made an address in German, giving a history of 
German immigration and its influence on the development of the State and 
nation. 

City Solicitor Charles F. Warwick delivered the address in English. He 
said that it was a red letter day not only in the history of the German race, 
but a red letter day in the history of America. When the thirteen men left 
their native homes to come to the New World they had a long and weary 
journey over a trackless waste of dreary waters. They came to find a new 
home in a new land, and he for one thanked God for the day they made up 
their minds to settle among us. 

THREE GERMAN CHARACTERISTICS. 

There were, he said, three things for which the German character was par- 
ticularly noted. One was love of country; the second was love of domestic 
life, and the third was love of freedom. He honored them for all three of 
these characteristics, but particularly for the last. The love they bore for 
their old homes, he said, had now been transferred to the new home. They 
had stood by their adopted country in every hour of trial ; during the Revolu- 
tion, during the war of 1812 and finally during the war of the rebellion. It 
was just, therefore, that having taken part in its sorrows and its troubles, they 
should share in its peace and its prosperity. 

The celebration concluded with an address in German by Dr. G. Ivellner. 

THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES. 

The Northern Liberties was formerly styled North End. Near Cohocksinc 
creek, the road was in poor condition, and in 1701 country inhabitants of Ger- 
mantown, Abington, etc., made petition to the Governor and Council for a 
settled road. The petition speaks of the Germantown road as being more 
traveled than the Frankford road, as it receives "much lime and meal from 
three mills, with much malt and a great deal of wood, timber," etc. 

As to the group of houses, the picture of which was explained by C. J. W., 
in the Germantown Telegraph of April 6, Watson, in the Appendix of Vol. 
II, p. 617, speaks of them as the last of the oldest houses remaining. The pict- 
uresque group of buildings then belonged to the family of John Green, and 
contrasted with the modern houses about them. They appeared to have been 
built at various periods. The front house, on the right in the picture, was 
faced with whiie mortar, and was the original log house used as a dwelling by 
John Adam Hogermoed. It had been the prison on Market Square. It was 
sold and Hogermoed bought it, and it was removed from the Square. " One 
of the higher houses in the rear, it may be seen, is diagonally boarded. The 
whole group seems to be found of four different constructions — a part is of 



266 GERMANTOWN. 

stone. All such remains of the primitive times are fast fading from the things 
that be ! " 

In 1791 the Governor and Council received a petition from the corporation 
of Germantown, through Pastorius, for exemption " from county charges for 
Court, taxes, etc." They " jjroposed to pay all their own public charges ; and 
they curiously added, ' they had seated themselves so close together, that they 
had scarce room to live.' They also at this time established the market-house, 
on the Main street, M'here the road ' goes to the Schuylkill.' " W. P. Hazzard's 
continuation of Watson's Annals, Vol. Ill, p. 66. 

In Vol. I, p. 19, Watson says, "The Germans from Cresheim, near Worms, 
were nearly all of them Friends, and all of them made their settlement at 
Germantown. By this emigration, says Sewall, they providentially avoided 
the desolation of a French war, which soon after laid waste their former 
possessions." 

Watson influenced " many to plaster the fronts of their houses," and stirred 
up the lot owners with regard " to paving the foot ways." Hes ays that 
Robert H. Thomas gave the first impulse to the increase of houses and popula- 
tion. He succeeded in opening streets, and selling lots and. building cottages, 
and drawing persons into the country. He began on Centre street and then 
laid out lots on Kelly's farm. Eli and Philip Price, following his example, 
bought land of Wuuder and laid out Price street, where Watson lived. The 
old Germantown faded out and the new came in, and the newer yet still drives 
out what preceded it. 

Germantown was once selected as the capital of the United States, but a 
postponement to a following session killed the matter. This was in 1789. It 
is said that the influence of the financier, Robert Morris, brought Congress to 
Philadelphia. Watson's Annals, Vol. II, p. 605. 

Watson names Jesse Torrey as the originator of the Germantown Railroad. 
I have given Townsend Ward's account of the matter in these articles. Mr. 
Torrey resided temporarily in Germantown. Various essays in Major Freas's 
Germantown Telegraph sustain the work. The fluctuations of the value of 
the railway shares are described as well as its rise above par. Vol. II, p. 606. 
In Vol. II, p. 180, Watson gives from Heckewelder some meanings of Indian 
names : Wissahickon, catfish creek ; Wisauchsican, a stream of yellowish 
color; Wingohocking (Wingehacking) fine land for planting, favorite spot; 
Tulpehoccon (Tulpewihacki) the .land of turtles. This was the name of an 
Indian town at or about Womelsdorf. Vol. II, p. 255, and note. There was a 
Tulpehacka creek, p. 257. Says an observer, quoted in the AjDpendix of Vol. 
II, p. 529 : " As I rode through the Tulpahocken, much I thought of the former 
Indian owners : 

' Whose hundred bands 
Ranged freely o'er those shaded lands, 
Where now there's scarcely left a trace, 
To mind one of that tawny race.' " 



-£>iAc^ (<l^*o 



PTAPKN TAH DIRCE KKTSER, VSRVAARDTOD IN HET OENEALOOiaOQ 
SN BXRAX-OtSUH ARCHISF TK 'S OKAVSNBAOJ:, (NEDE:ai.A2ID.) 



GERMANTOWN. 267 

Col. Jehu Eyre, a noted and patriotic ship builder of Kensington, was under 
command of General Armstrong, on the right, in the battle of Germantown 
and marched to the mouth of the Wissahickon " where he placed his cannon 
and opened the attack on the Hessians stationed opposite." Col. Peter D. 
Keyser's Memorials of Col. Eyre, Penna. Mag. of Hist., A. D. 1879, and 
pamphlet. While the danger of the collisions of war vessels sailing in a fog is 
great, so a fog on land, as at the Battle of Germantown, perplexes the com- 
batants. Captain John Montresor's Journal in the Pennsylvania Magazine of 
History, No. IV, of Vol. 5, says that as the English marched to the battle of the 
Brandywine a thick fog contributed greatly to favor the march, p. 416. 

To the notice of Mr. Alcott's school should have been added that Mr. Rus- 
sell's Ladies' Boarding School in a yellow house, near Church Lane station, 
on Church lane, was contemporaneous with the school of Mr. Alcott. Mr. 
Jenks was at that time at the head of the Germantown Academy. These three 
gentlemen left Germantown, as I am informed, at about the same time. 

GERMANS. 

As to early German influence in Philadelphia it may be noted that in the 
Duke of Saxe Weimar's Travels, copied by Charles A. Poulson in his pains- 
taking MSS. book of Extracts from Travelers as to Philadelphia, we find that 
the German Societj'^, which had aided poor Germans reaching this country, 
gave a splendid banquet to that nobleman in the Masonic Hall. The travels 
were in 1825 and 1826. In returning from Bethlehem by stage the Duke says : 
"The last part of the road was particularly interesting to me. In the flourish- 
ing villages of Germantown and Nicetown there are handsome gardens and 
country seats of Philadelphians." He speaks of Washington's headquarters at 
Whiteraarsh, and .somebody had given him a story about a contest of the Brit- 
ish for the possession of the well on the Chew place, which, as Mr. Poulson 
notes, is an error. Mr. Poulson deserved credit for the hard task in collecting 
so much matter about Philadelphia from native and foreign authors who had 
visited the city. The manuscript book shows what were the " lions " of early 
days and how "ithers see us." If a collection from it could be printed it 
would be interesting. The volume is in the Ridgway Library. In it Tyrone 
Power, the famous Irish comedian, who was lost on the ship President, speaks of 
the German farmers about Philadelphia who encircled the soil and clung to 
the customs of " Faderland." In 1833-35 he notes their dress and manners as 
still peculiarly German as well as their language. He remarks that there were 
German magistrates and a German interpreter in court. He also tells of a ride 
to Germantown and the ravine of the " Wisihissing." The wild ravines and 
bridle paths please the stranger. He thought that the first glance of the 
country about Philadelphia would not wari'ant an expectation of the pleasant 
surprises which a broken country does afford to one " of an errant habit and 
much given to exploration." 



268 GERMANTOWN. 

I have a copy of Joel Barlow's " Columbiad." The volume is magnificentlj^ 
printed by Fry & Kammerer for C. & A. Conrad & Co., Philadelphia, Conrad, 
Lucas & Co., Baltimore, and published in Philadelphia in A. D. 1807. As to 
the mechanical execution of this book, Dr. James Mease, in his " Picture (His- 
tory) of Philadelphia," speaks of this and Wilson's Ornithology as " specimens 
of truly superb work," done in Philadelphia, p. 86. On page 250, Book VII, of 
this epic poem is a reference to the death of Nash which occurred at the Battle 
of Germantown. 

" But still Columbus, on his war-beat shore, 
Sees Albion's fleets her new battalions pour; 
The States unconquer'd still their terrors wield, 
And stain with mingled gore the embattled field. 
On Pennsylvania's various plains they move, 
And adverse armies equal slaughter prove ; 
Columbia mourns her Nash in combat slain, 
Britons around him press the gory plain ; 
Skirmish and cannonade and distant fire 
Each power diminish and each nation tire, 
Till Howe from fruitless toil demands repose. 
And leaves despairing in a land of foes 
His wearied host ; who now, to reach their fleet, 
O'er Jersey hills commenced their long retreat, 
Tread back the steps their chief had led before. 
And ask in vain tlie late abandon'd shore. 
Where Hudson meets the main ; for on their rear 
Columbia moves, and checks tlieir swift career.'' 

In book VIII, p. 309, a name familiar to Germantown is dulj honored.: 

** And see s,ige Rittenhouse witli anient eye. 
Lift the long lube and pierce the starry sky; 
Clear in his view the circling planets roll. 
And suns and satellites their course control. 
He marks what laws the widest wanderers bind, 
Copies creation in his forming mind, 
Sees in his hall the total semblance rise, 
And mimics there the labors of the skies. 
There student youths without their tubes behold 
The spangled heavens their mystic maze unfold, 
And crowded schools their cheerful chambers grace 
With all the spheres that cleave the vast of space." 

Another notable man whose history is connected with Stenton and German- 
town, as described in these articles, is thus noticed on the same page: 

" To guide ihe sailor in his wandering way, 
See Godfrey's (;lass reverse the beams of day. 
His lifted quadrant to the eye displays 
From adverse skies tlie counteracting rays ; 
And marks, as devious sails bewilder'd roll. 
Each nice gradation from the steadfast pole." 

Another Germantown character appears in the "Columbiad," book VIII, j). 
312, in a reference to Stuart. : 

" .Stuart & Brown the moving portrait raise, 
Each rival stroke the force oflife conveys ; 
Heroes and beauties round their tablets stand, 










THE CHANNON HOUSE, ONCE OCCUPIED BY DIRCK KEYSER; 

ALSO THE RESIDENCE OF JACOB KEYSER, ELDEST 

SON OF JOHN KEYSER. 



GERMANTOWN. 271 

And rise unfading from their plastic hand ; 
Each breathing form preserves its wonted grace, 
And all the soul stands speaking in the face." 

DIRK KEYSER. 

In almost every article under this heading, and particularly those written 
of Upper Germantown, the name of Keyser appears as inseparably woven into 
the early historj^ of the place. It may therefore be appropriate in this connec- 
tion to trace the history of this family from the year 1527. For the following 
sketch I am indebted to Mr. Romaine Keyser. 

The earliest authentic history of the Keyser family appears in " Der 
Martyr's Spiegel," or "Het Blootige Toornal," "The Martyr's Mirror," or 
" The Bloody Journal," in which Leonard Keyser is spoken of as a Priest 
of the Mass in Bavaria, who, after a long series of persecutions, was burned at 
the stake, in Scharding, Germany, in 1527. The same year his family took 
refuge in Holland. According to Ten Gate, a Dutch historian, Leonard 
Keyser was one of the Waldenses, some of whose communities are said to 
have existed from the earliest Christian times. The first Keysers in America 
were Mennonites. " The origin of this sect is somewhat involved in obscurity. 
Their opponents, following Sleidanus and other writers of the 16th century 
have reproached them with being an outgrowth of the Anabaptists of Munster. 
On the contrarj', their own historians, Mehring, Van Braght and Roosen, 
trace their theological and lineal descent from the Waldenses (Historical and 
Biographical sketches. Pennypacker). This then accounts for the religious 
belief of the family, previous to their appearance in America. 

In the fall of 1688, Dirk Keyser, a silk merchant of Amsterdam, with his 
son Peter, and Dirk Jr., arrived in Germantown, by way of New York. Having 
left Holland, which had established on a firm foundation the true principles of 
religious liberty, they doubtless sought a new home where they could, with even 
greater freedom, develop this God given heritage, bringing with them love of 
liberty, some property and habits of frugality and industry. In the family 
Bible, now in the possession of Mr. Gideon Keyser, is written by Dirk Keyser : 
"September, 1688, died, my little daughter Joanna, and was buried upon a 
plantation called Cogenaw, between New York and Philadelphia." The 
family have still in their possession many papers and documents brought 
from Holland. Among those are marriage certificates, funeral notices and 
certificates "of baptism, some of which, from their singularity or oddness at 
the present day, we present in this sketch : 

CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE. 

" This is to certify that Dirk Keyser and Elizabeth ter Himpel, upon their 
desire, after three Sundays having been published at Amsterdam, in all the 
churches, on the undermentioned date, in the church at Buicksloot, lawfully 



272 GERMANTOWN. 

and iu the presence of the Lord's congregation, are married : declare I, the 
undersigned secretary, at Buicksloot, the 22d day of November, 1668. 

"Signed, B. Vredenhuis, 

" Secretary." 

The following is the certificate of marriage of Pieter Dirk Keyser, who was 
born in Amsterdam, 25th November, 1676, and accompanied his father to 
America in 1688 : 

" This is to certifiy that on the 4th of September, 1700, I married Margareth 
Sieplie, aged eighteen years. May the Lord grant us his blessing, and all 
which will be necessary for us in this world and in the world to come, and 
we will praise his holy name, now and forever. • Amen. 

" Pieter Dirk Keyser, 

" Germantown." 

INVITATIONS TO FUNERALS. 

" On Monday, 5th July, 1655, you are desired to follow to the grave, the 
deceased youngest son of Dirk Gerritz Keyser, brother-in-law to Tobias 
Govertz, Van den Wyngaert, in Eland street, near the Resting Hart, at one 
o'clock, to come as near friend to the house. The corpse to be buried in the 
Wester Church." 

" On Sunday, 14th October, 1657, you are desired to follow to the grave 
Elizabeth Van Singhel, wife of Pieter ter Himpel, in the house called 'ter 
Himpel,' to come as a friend to the house. The corpse to be buried in the 
South Church." 

" On Saturday, 27th, 1676, you are desired to follow to the grave Josntye 
Van Gestel, late wife of Gerret Dirk Keyser, daughter of Jan Van Gestel, in 
Eland street, near the Resting Hart, to come as a friend in the house. The 
corpse to be buried in the Lej^dse Church, by desire of Dirk Keyser and wife." 

Quite a number of notices such as the above, printed in the Dutch language, 
in bold type, upon heavy paper, and showing very little the effect of the two 
hundred years which have rolled over them, are still resting under the heavy 
lids of the old family Bible. 

On the 4th of April, 1689, the first settlers in Germantown drew lots for 
choice' of location in the town then about to l)e incorporated by William Penn. 
The Keysers drew lot No. 22, and shortly afterward purchased thQ adjoining 
property of William Streypers. 

Dirk Keyser died 30th November, 1714, and was buried at Germantown, 
leaving his estate to his son, Pieter Dirk Keyser, who died 12th September, 
1724. Tracing the descent into the eighteenth century the record continues. 
Dirk Keyser, son of Pieter Dirk Keyser, the first American of the family, was 
born in Germantown, 26th September, 1701 ; died 8th January, 1756. The 
stone marking his last resting place is still in an excellent state of preservation 
in the old Mennonite graveyard. His eldest son, John Keyser, was born 23d 




SAMUEL KEYSER, PI OC 1 M I J OF 

THE PRESENT GERMANTOWN 

BRANCH. 



GERMANTOWN. 275 

May, 1730, and died 2d Maj', 1813. He lived in the house now occupied by 
the family of the late Rev. John Rodney, 5233 Germantown Avenue. John 
Keyser's eldest son, Jacob, was born 18th September, 1754. After a well-spent 
life he died at his home, now occupied by Mr. John C. Channon, 5149 German- 
town Avenue, 17th December, 1846. The names of these two ancestors of the 
family • appear frequently in the old books of the Germantown Academy, 
Concord School and Mennonite Church, both as contributors and officers. 
They did that which is most worthy of notice — they gave of their time, their 
talents and their money for the advancement of the best interests of the 
town, and the gratitude of future generations should preserve their names 
from oblivion. Mr. John F. Watson, in his "Annals of Philadelphia," 
makes this mention of Jacob Keyser : " An aged gentleman, who has 
been a contributor of many of the facts of Germantown, and to whom I have 
submitted the perusal of the preceding pages, has commended them for 
their accuracy, and has furnished some additional illustrations." With 
the death of Jacob Keyser, in his 92d year, we come to the generation in 
which Samuel Keyser, born 25th January, 1783, was the eldest son, and 
standing as he does in the family record, midway between the past and the 
present, he may well be taken as a type of the hardy pioneers, who were plain, 
matter-of-fact, intelligent men, not easily discouraged and without the quality 
of fear. His tall person and stern features will be remembered by many of the 
citizens of the present day. He was a Director of the Bank of Germantown 
from 1837 to 1858, and a Manager of the Poor from 1830 to 1845.. President 
of the Board of Trustees of Concord School from 1834 to 1866. 

He was exacting, almost Puritanical, in his bearing, yet possessing a charity 
which made the man worthy of the highest regard. He was liberal to his 
church; in all her enterprises he was cordially enlisted ; so far from laying 
burdens upon others which he was unwilling to assume himself, he usually 
took the lead in the work to be done. He dealt his bread to the hungry, and 
brought the poor that were cast out, to his house, not rashly, but considerately 
measuring his alms, remembering the law of the Universe, which decrees that 
if any man will not work, neither shall he eat. On the 9th July, 1868, he 
died, and of his six sqns Gideon, Naaman, Reuben, Jacob, John S., and 
Daniel L., but two survive — Gideon, who is enjoying excellent health in his 
80th year, and Reuben.* Naaman died at Germantown, August 9th, 1867. 
He was a Director of the Bank of Germantown from 1841 to 1843. Jacob 
died in San Jago de Cuba, whither he had gone in search of health, November 
28th, 1839. He traA^eled to the West Indies with a school friend, Pedro Ferrer 
Landa, whose father, a wealthy planter, had sent him to Philadelphia to be 
educated. John S. Keyser died in Philadelphia, April 15th, 1862. It was 
thought his courageous efforts, while Chief Marshal of Philadelphia from 
1850 to 1853, that order and quiet of the Quaker City was brought out of the 
chaos of rough rule. Daniel L. Keyser, the father of the author of this sketch, 

* Gideon died 3 Dec, 1888. Reuben died 22 July, 1888, 



276 GERMANTOWN. 

died March 27th, 1884. He was a member of the town Councils from 1835 
to 1852. Town Commissioner in 1844. In 1853-54 Chairman of Committee 
to build Town Hall. From. 1855 to 1875 he filled the positions of auditor, 
treasurer, secretary and president of the Board of Managers of the Poor. In 
1862 he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Regiment, Penna. Militia. He was 
elected school director for 22d Section in 1876, and remained its most active 
member until the day of his death, since which time a new school has been 
given his name. He was president and director of the Masonic Hall Associa- 
tion, and for nearly fifty years was the moving spirit in the religious work 
carried forward by the Methodists in Germantown. His life was one of 
ceaseless activity, devoted to measures for the public good, the care of the sick 
and the distressed in the church, and in the world, than whom there was, 
there is, no nobler, manlier man, for all men knew him to be temperate, rever- 
ent and pure. No man ever knew better than he how to forgive, or more 
frequently exercised the forgiveness of injury, " the noblest virtue of humanity, 
the highest excellence of Christianity." Appropriate it is, indeed, that this 
history of the family, opened by the martyrdom of the first Keyser, should close 
with the record of the heroic death of two of its youngest generation : Lieu- 
tenant Charles P. Keyser, son of Naaman, of Company B, 150th Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Samuel Keyser, son of Reuben, killed at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 1st, 1863. The same spirit of holy courage which 
prompted Leonard Keyser to suffer death at the stake, and the same love of 
Liberty that brought their ancestors to America, led these young men to lay 
down their lives upon the soil of the State their forefathers helped to make 
strong and great. 

This family has already been noticed in these articles but the author of this 
work adds that "the fair women and brave men," who assembled at the 
Mennonite Church in Germantown on October 10th, 1888, to celebrate the 
Bi-Centennial, of the arrival in America, of the extensive and worthy 
Keyser family deserve a few words. I have seldom looked on a goodlier 
company, and Dirck Keyser might be proud of his descendants. Gideon 
Keyser, who presided, has just died. The addresses by the historian of 
the family, Charles S. Keyser, Esq., and Dr. Peter Dirck Keyser, and Miss 
Julia A. Drum's reading of the martyrdom of Leonnard Keyser, written by 
Chas. S. Keyser, and the addresses of Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, Samuel W. 
Pennypacker, Esq., LL. D. (now a Judge), and Prof. Seidensticker, and Prof. 
Adrian Van Helden, of Holland, and the foreign Consul Lars Westergard 
were all very instructive, and the godly family were traced in their wander- 
ings and struggles and successes from Holland to Germantown. 

CALVARY CHURCH. 

The Rev. Dr. Perry has placed in my hands a sketch of the history of this 
parish which he prepared for TJie Episcopal Register, now called The Church, of 



GERMANTOWN. 279 

January 21st, A. D. 1882. A picture of the beautiful rustic church, with its 
cross-crowned porches and buttresses and bell tower, surmounted by a cross, 
adorned the narrative. This church in Manheim street was built in expecta- 
tion of the growth of the town in that quarter. It was the fourth Episcopal 
parish in Germantown. Mr. James S. Huber offered the lot in a good location. 
Those interested in the enterprise met at the Episcopal rooms, No. 524 Walnut 
street, on November, A. D. 1858. The late Rev. Kingston Goddard, D. D., 
rector of the Church of the Atonement, Philadelphia, lived in Germantown 
and was deeply interested in this work. In a month the funds for a church 
building were raised and the contract for the erection made. J. C. Sidney 
was the architect. Ground was broken November 22d, 1858. Mr. Benjamin 
G. Godfrey was chairman of the Building Committee and was elected warden. 
The Vestry were Messrs. B. G. Godfrey, Harry Conrad, John Welsh, H. P. Mc- 
Kean, Edward IngersoU, Wm. P. Cresson, Wm. B. Johns, P. E. Hamm, Thomas 
H. Powers, Edmund Smith, James Magee and Gilbert H. New hall. Rev. T. K. 
Conrad, D. D., was elected the first rector and took charge of the parish on 
February 14th, 1859. He had been rector of All Saints' Church, Philadelphia. 

The earnest chairman of the building committee pushed the building to 
completion on the 29th of April, and on the 30th it was consecrated by Assistant 
Bishop Samuel Bowman, who had encouraged the enterprise. Dr. Goddard 
preached from I Tim. 3:15, " That thou mightest know how to behave thyself 
in the house of God." The day following being Sunday Bishop Hopkins, of 
Vermont, preached in the morning from Col. 3:23, " And whatsoever ye do, do 
it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Bishop Stevens, who was then 
rector of St. Andrew's, Philadelphia, preached in the afternoon from Ps. XC. 
17, " And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us ; and establish thou 
the work of our hands upon us ; yea the work of our hands establish thou it." 
In the evening Rev. Dr. Alex. Vinton, rector of Holy Trinity Church, Philadel- 
phia, preached. The next Sunday several children came to the Church seek- 
ing a Sunday School. The rector and warden were there and promptly 
started one on the occasion. The school met in the church till a two-story build- 
ing was erected for it in the rear. Dr. Conrad's rectorship closed in 1863. A 
parochial school has been formed and the playground was the place of training 
the famous Young America Cricket Club. The school building was enlarged. 
Rev. John A. Childs, D. D., was in charge of the parish for several months. 
Rev. George A. Strong, became the second rector on August 30th, 1863, and 
resigned November 1st, 1865. Under his rectorship the church prospered 
financially. 

Rev. J. DeWolf Perry, D. D., from Rhode Island, became the third rector 
on the second Sunday of May, 1866. A volunteer choir was formed by the 
young members of the congregation. The church was enlarged and the 
chancel newly furnished. The school building was again enlarged by adding 
two rooms for parish uses. One contained the parish library. A parish 
Guild was formed in 1867 and has done good work. A Mothers' Meeting was 



2S0 GERMANTOWN. 

added and night school for both sexes. A fine stone rectory has been built 
and lately enlarged. 

The rector has done outside work at Kenderton and Nicetown. Rev, J. W. 
Ashton, when a candidate for Holy Orders, assisted zealously in the Nice- 
town undertaking. He is now in charge of a church in Olean, N. Y. The 
services at Nicetown, near the steel works, were discontinued, but the Sunday 
School and Sewing School continued successfully. The services at Nicetown 
were held in the railway station and afterward in an old building kindly 
loaned for the purpose. In 1869 the Church of the Resurrection in Rising 
Sun was prostrated by the wind. At this juncture Mr. Davis, then rector at 
Rising Sun, held services in the Railroad Hall at Tioga. A Sunday School 
was formed and St. George's Church was organized and called Rev. Joseph R. 
Moore to its rectorship. He has since become the rector of the Church of the 
Resurrection. 

The organ of Calvary Church was the workmanship of Knauff & Sons. It 
was put in the Church in 1872. This year the wall of the chancel was re-il- 
luminated as the work of the Sunday School. The stone wall in front of the 
Church gave place to an iron railing. In 1881,; at Easter, the Church was 
freed from debt, according to St. Paul's injunction, " Owe no man anything, 
but to love one another." The Children's Mite Society has improved the Church 
grounds by laying stone pavements, etc. Dr. Perry is the Dean of the Con- 
A'ocation of Germantown. The members of the present vestry of the Church 
are as follows: Col. George A. Woodward, William Mellor, George M. Russell, 
David Hinkle, Jabez Gates, Henry M. Brown, J. Robert Maury, Charles C. 
Harrison, George S. Strawbridge, A. E. Brecht, Dr. Benjamin Lee, Robert S. 
Newhall. 

GEORGE LIPPARD. 

The pedestrian who looks into the gate of the Upper Burying Ground in 
passing will see a number of stones with the name of Lippard on them. These 
were relatives of the noted novelist. His grandfather and father and his 
maternal grandfather, John Cook, are buried in this old j^ard. The novelist is 
interred in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery in this city, and a monument has lately 
been erected to him by the " Brotherhood of the Union," which was founded 
by him. The chief officer of this body is styled Washington, and the names 
of Franklin and other famous men of revolutionary days are used to designate 
other officers. 

George Lippard was the author of a number of novels, which were published 
by Peterson, and were successful in their day. " Washington and His Gen- 
erals," " The Quaker City, or the Monk of Monk Hall," " Paul Ardenheim, or 
the Monk of Wissahickon," " Legends of Mexico," " The Nazarene," " Blanche 
of Brandywine," "The Belle of Prarie Eden, or A Romance of Mexico," and 
other volumes fell from his fertile pen. He published " The White Banner 
Quarterly, " himself. Mr. Lippard was the cousin of John Cook Channon, of 



GERMANTOWN. 281 

Germantown, and his picture is at his residence, and his cleai' signature is in a 
book presented by him to the sisters of Mr. Channon. The long-haired bright 
looking youth with turned down collar and white vest, holds a scroll of paper 
in his hand and looks the personification of the poet. He was brought up a 
Methodist and in early life thought of becoming a Methodist preacher. He 
spent part of his youth with his mother's sister at Rising Sun, and took a deep 
interest in Germantown and wrote much about it. He was passionately fond of 
the country about the Wissahickon, and, with a poet's fancy, was married on 
the banks of the Wissahickon at sunrise. His wife and child died before him. 
He died in early mid-life of consumption. His imagination was strong and his 
picturing vivid. A reference to his description of the battle of Germantown, 
with his poetical additions was given in these articles. He was a prose poet. 

He was an eloquent speaker, as well as an impressive writer. He wrote 
much concerning the legends of the beautiful Wissahickon. The mother of 
George Lippard was Jemima Ford, who lived on the Brandywine creek in 
Delaware. One of his books related to the Brandywine. His grandfather, 
David Ford, was one of the early Methodists of Delaware. His father, Daniel 
B. Lippard, was once County Treasurer. The author, in boyhood, spent some 
time in the office of .Ovid F. Johnson, Esq., Attorney General of the State, 
which was located in Philadelphia. 

THE OLD WELL AT THE CHEW HOUSE. 

There is something very interesting in an old well, which has refreshed 
generations. In Genesis we read of the twelve wells of water at i^lim, and the 
seventy palm trees, where the encampment was naturally made. Isaac and 
Rebecca at the well is a familiar picture from childhood, and our Lord's 
discourse on spiritual worship to the woman at the well of Jacob, was one of 
the most important contained in the Gospels. Woodworth, in his famous 
poem, has well given voice to the sentiment that clings around an old well, 
thus : 

" And now, far removed from that loved situation, 

The tear of regret will intrusivelv swell. 
As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, 

And sighs for tht bucket which hangs in the well ; 
The old oaken bucket ! — the iron-bound bucket — . 

The moss-covered bucket, which hangs in the well." 

The Chew well was no doubt an object of great interest in its day. In 
winter the half frozen urchins in the early morning filled their pails, and 
hastened from the icy surroundings to the warm stove, and the comfortable 
breakfast. In the warm summer mornings there was more lingering for a word 
of gossip. The noon day found the tired laborer stopping to quench his thirst, 
and the evening perhaps heard its tale of love. But the barefooted children 
did not like to tarry here at night, but hurried by with quivering hearts. The 
old tradition ran that dead soldiers were cast into this well at the time of the 



282 GERMANTOWN. 

battle, and their ghosts were naturally expected to appear. Women, as well as 
children, were afraid of the ghosts which were supposed to visit Chew's stone 
wall at night. A man once tried to play the ghost there, wrapped in a sheet or, 
blanket, but men caught and flogged him. There must have been a strong 
feeling among children when those who lived at the time of the battle could 
tell them the tales of blood which their own eyes had seen. Southey represents 
this in his poem on " The Battle of Blenheim." The summer evening with old 
Kaspar telling little Peterkin and Wilhelmine about the fearful battle of long 
ago is a vivid scene : 

" ' It was the English,' Kaspar cried, 

' Who put the French to rout; 
But what they killed each other for 

I could not well make out. 
But everybody said,' quoth he, 

' That t'was for a famous victory ! ' " 

Would that such satires might help to prevent famous victories, and famous 
defeats alike, and banish the demon of war from the earth. 

The old well at the Chew House had more history and romance connected 
with it than the modern fountains which adorn our city. Still these fountains 
are a very pretty feature, and justify the Hebrew usage, which called the 
fountain the eye, for they give life to the landscapes, as the human eye 
enlivens the countenance. The well stood in what is now Johnson street, where 
the board walk is. A wooden roof surmounted it, and buckets emptying and 
filling in ascending and descending, were worked by a cord and rope. Mr. J. 
Hejd Raser, the artist, whose studio is in West Walnut lane, near Main street, 
in Germantown, has taken great pains to get an exact idea of the well, and has 
painted a beautiful picture of it within the wall of the lawn, in oil, and its 
surroundings, including the Chew House and grounds, which adorns the wall 
of the Library Association at Market Square and Main street. The readers 
should go there and view it. An ancient Friends' marriage certificate of Baltas 
Reser and Mary Lucken, A. D. 1743, with the Germantown witnesses, having 
the old family names of Naglee, Shoemaker and Mackinet, shows that the 
artist's ancestors were Germantowners, and that he has a natural right to take 
a deep interest in the antiquities of the place. He has kindly aided my 
inquiries. One person has spoken to me of a pole being in use to work-the 
bucket of the Chew well ; if it was used, it may have been previous to the cord 
arrangement described. 

I have elsewhere given the mistaken idea of a foreign traveler, who was 
wrongly informed that the possession of the well was an important point in 
the battle. A low stone wall used to run along the front of the Chew House 
and grounds, before the grading of the street caused the present ha-ha to be 
built. The well stood just within the wall, and the neighborhood was kindly 
allowed to use it, so that the chain or cord and pulley were in frequent demand. 
The land where the well stood and the well itself, are said to have belonged to 



GERMANTOWN. 283 

Leonard Stoneburner, before the Chews owned it. He is buried in the Upper 
Burying Ground. His house is now divided into stores. It is the last main 
building before striking the Chew property. It fell into the hands of Jacob 
Clemens, who married a granddaughter of Mr. Stoneburner. The old well and 
its companions in the town, the old toll-gate and market-house, have disap- 
peared. They belonged to a day when peach trees bloomed and orchards of 
apple trees stood where the citizens have now built their fine cottages. While 
we admire the new lanes we can but mourn the loss of the picturesqueness of 
the early times. Thompson Westcott has called my attention to another 
antiquity at the Chew House. It is the old-fashioned iron-plate in the kitchen 
at Cliveden. I noticed a very fine one at Graeme Park, but thej^ are a vara avis 
now. 

The Sharpnack Family lived below Sharpnack street. The house is gone. 
The street, which perpetuates their name, runs through their propert}'. Ben- 
jamin Sharpnack had been a Philadelphia merchant, and lived on this place 
with his sisters. The original members of this familj- are dead, but some 
descendants still remain in Germantown. 

An interesting note relating to the Johnsons has fallen under my notice. Mr. 
Wallace was shown by Mr. Henry Phillips an almanack of 1703 with the 
imprint of Tiberius Johnson, who was a sou of Reynier Johnson, Pennsyl- 
vania Magazine of History, Vol. V, p. 117, " Notes and Queries." 

The reverend Israel Acrelius was the Provost of the Swedish Churched, and 
rector of Old Swedes' Church, Wilmington, Delaware. He wrote the History 
of New Sweden, and thus describes Germantown : " Germantown, six miles 
north of Philadelphia, is three miles long. It has one principal street, which 
is a public wagon road, and 350 houses. The inhabitants are generally 
German mechanics." 

ROBERT P. McCULLAGH'S RESIDENCE, " LONGFIELD." 

After passing the horse-car depot, on Main street, the residence of Mr. Robert 
P. McCullagh, " Longfieid," meets us at No. 5511. The present owner informs 
me that this house was built by a carpenter, named Idell. Some of the family 
live in Sharpnack street. It was next owned by the family of General Michael 
W. Ash, at one time sheriff of the county. Then Mr. Rodney King, who after- 
ward lived in Roxborough, became the owner of the property. He sold it to 
the widow of Thomas Fassitt. Mr. McCullagh purchased of her heir or heirs. 
Rev. James Patterson had a school in Mr. McCuUagh's house for two or three 
years. This was about A. D. 1823-4. 

In Vol. Ill, p. 457 of Watson's Annals we find the following about the original 
Johnson House: "Tlie Johnson or Jansen House. — The Johnson House which 
was on the corner of Germantown avenue, opposite the Chew property, was 
on the corner of Germantown avenue, opposite the Chew property, was built 



284 GERMANTOWN. 

•by Heivert Papen, one of the old German settlers of Germautown, in the 
year 1698. The Johnson (originally Jansen) family is also descended from old 
iGermantown settlers, who formerly also owned ground on the west side of Main 
street and a portion of the ground on which Cliveden — afterward the Ohew 
house — was built. A remarkable tree stood in the grounds near this mansion 
on Main street. It is the noblest tree of the kind— the silver fir {Picca Pectin- 
ata). Downing, in his Landscape Gardening, gives an illustration of it as a 
specimen tree — fig. 37 — entitled ' The Silver Fir, at the residence of Dr. Johnson 
of Germantown ; age fifty-seven j^ears ; height, one hundred feet.' This was 
thirty years ago, bijt, like all trees when too much crowded and shaded, it lost 
its majestic appearance. Immediately in front of the mansion is the finest 
specimen of the dwarf spruce {Abies pumilla) to be found in this vicinity." 
Willis P. Hazard here appears to give Watson's own emendation of Vol. II. 
The Fir tree still stands in the lower part of the lawn at Upsal, but shows its 
age. The lines which Watson quotes from Cowper's poem, " Yardley Oak," 
concerning old city trees in Vol. II, jj. 491, well apply to this aged tree. 

" Survivor sole of all that once lived here ! 
A shalter'd veteran, — couldst thou speak 
And tell who lived when thou wast young, 
By thee I might correct the clock of history — 
Recover facts, — misstated things set right ; 
But since no spirit dwells in thee to speak, 
I will perform myself, in my own ear, 
' Such matters as I may." 

THE BILLMEYER HOUSE. 

On the northwest corner of Main and Upsal streets (numbers 5344 and 
5347), stands the ancient stone house of the Billmeyer family. The grading 
of the street has destroyed the old appearance of the property, but a photograph 
shows the grand trees which ouce adorned its front, while a side yard still holds 
some natural beauties which have escaped the ruthless hand of the highway- 
men of modern times. The old stone steps which introduce the visitor to the 
mansion are antiques indeed, and the brass knocker has responded to the touch 
of various generations. The half-doors still retain their place, and have a 
quaint and simple air that is refreshing. Mr. George Billmeyer and family 
reside in the lower dwelling, and in the upper one the Misses Elizabeth M., 
Wilhelmina G., and Susanna C. Billmeyer. A part of the furniture is of the 
beautiful and strong patterns which delighted our ancestors, and which was 
honestly made for use and not for mere show. It has given comfort to many 
for about a century. An old high clock in all its dignity still ticks away sol- 
emnly under the moon which beautifies its face. A water-shed divides the 
upper and lower stories in front, and an old stone which formerly was placed 
on the lower side of the house on which Washington is said to have stood in 
commanding his Generals at the battle of Germantown, has wisely been placed 
within the yard, and I had the pleasure of standing upon it. The house was 



GERMANTOWN. 285 

bought by Michael Billmeyer. His father wrote the name Billmayer. He was 
a native of Germany. 

The American officers had a conference in front of this house, when the 
Chew House was in possession of the British, and Watson speaks of Colonel 
Pickering as being here. The British are said to have fired the house. There 
is a closet on the first floor which still retains the marks of the burning. A 
Mr. Haverstick built this old mansion for his two daughters, and a grandson 
of his named Henry was afterwards a tenant in the house. 

In Theo. W. Bean's " Washington at Valley Forge, or Footprints of the 
Revolution," p. 24, it is stated in Lieut. Col. T. Pickering's letter that General 
Washington, General Knox and other oflBcers were in front of a stopie house 
north of Chew's house, which was apparently the Billmeyer house. There were 
then " open fields " above Chew's. There was a discussion whether the Amer- 
ican troops should advance into the town or summon the garrison in the Chew 
house to surrender. There were British tents around the building. 

Major Freas suggested in the Germantown Telegraph of September 26th, 
1877, that with modern firearms Washington could not have stood long on the 
stone. A bank then partially covered his body and the English were too busy 
with near foes to attack distant ones. A musket ball pierced the stoop and 
the- remains are still there. A ball also pierced a second story window, and the 
woodwork still shows its mark. 

Michael Billmeyer lived here at the battle, and used to speak of Washing- 
ton. He was married by Rev. Michael Schlatter, ninety-nine years before 
Major Freas's visit to the house, to Mary Leipert (now spelled Leibert). The 
Gorgas and Leibert families in after years had a board yard at Gorgas and 
Main streets. Indian relics have been found on the place. The arrowheads 
are of stone from a distance. I had the pleasure of handling some stone 
hatchets. The family has a religious book published in 1617 in German. 
Jacob Billmeyer's name and the date 1777 is in the book. A Bible published 
in German in 1762 by Christopher Sower is in possession of this family. 
Michael Billmeyer succeeded Christopher Sower in the printing business in 
Germantown, and in partnership with Peter Leibert continued the work for 
years. He did printing for Congress. 

Peter Leibert lived in the old stone plastered house on Main street, opposite 
Sharpnack street. The house once had a pent roof and porch, which have 
disappeared. It is an antique and perhaps as old as the Billmeyer house. John 
Crowson now owns and occupies it. 

The stone house next below was owned by Christopher Mason, who dwelt in 
it. It belongs to the Carpenter estate. Mr. George Demuth occupies it. 

The double stone house next below on the same side was built for Daniel L. 
Billmej^er by order of his father, Michael Billmeyer. His daughter, Miss 
Sophia Billmeyer, now resides in it. She is the only survivor of the family, 
which was quite a large one. 



286 GERMANTOWN. 

I am indebted to the Misses Billmeyer for the above information. The 
family has a coat of arms of German origin with an inscription referring to 
the printer's art, which would seem to indicate that the Emperor Frederick gave 
the honor for typographical reasons. 

It should have been noted that Christopher Sower lived in the present 
sexton's house of the Dunkard Church. There was an upper story to the 
church, where he did printing and kept his papers. 

In front of the previous church building stood the old house which gave the 
traditional name to Beggarstown. The house was of log and frame. It was 
built for a dwelling and a church, but the new church arose in its rear. It was 
used as a house for the residence of the church poor. The present sexton, Mr. 
Scheetz, assisted in demolishing the house. The tradition is that this house 
was built by begging, at least in part, and so the tale is often told ; but Town- 
send Ward believed that the term " Beggarstown," which was supposed thus to 
have started, was corrupted from Bebberstown from the Van Bebbers. 

ST. MICHAEL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

'This ancient parish lately celebrated its 150th anniversary, and the reminis- 
cences of that occasion afford means for a short sketch of its history. In 1742 
Rev. H. Melchior Muhlenberg, whose descendants are noted people, came from 
Europe and took charge of the church in Philadelphia, and at times preached 
in Germantown on week days. In 1745 Rev. Mr. Brownholz became pastor of 
St. Michael's Church. In 1746 the corner stone of a new church was laid. In 
1751 Rev. Mr. Handschuh, a learned man, became pastor. The consecration 
of the new church took place in 1752. Rev. G. D. M. Heintzelman assisted 
Mr. Handschuh. In 1763 the Rev. Mr. Kurtz, of Tulpehocken, took the 
pastorship. Rev. John Ludwig Voight followed him in 1764. In 1765 Rev. 
Jacob Van Buskirk was pastor. Dr. Charles Magnus Wrangel was one of his 
examiners. Next comes Rev. John Frederick Schmidt in 1769. His pastor- 
ship covered the Revolutionary era. The parishioners were loyal Americans 
and the British seized the parsonage and used it as a fort for a time. They 
destroyed the church organ. A new one was procured. Germans love music 
and their church services are enlivened by it. Mr. Schmidt went into the city 
in 1786. Rev. Frederick Weinland succeeded him and held the post for three 
years. The church was incorporated in 1785, under Pastor Schmidt, Wichard 
Miller, Christian Schneider, Charles Hay, Samuel Mechlin, John Frey and 
George Hacker, as Trustees. John George Graefly, Henry Beck, Bernard Bis- 
bing, John Altemus, Jacob Nees and Sebastian Reiber were elders. William 
Sommerlat, John Eggensdorf, Philip Kelsy and John Dowman were deacons. 
There was a parish school. In 1786 the Rev. Mr. Weinland gave up his charge,, 
and in 1790 Rev. Dr. Frederick David Schaeffer, from Germany, became 
pastor. He had been a theological student under Rev. Jacob Goerring, of 
York, Pa. Four of his five sons became clergymen. Dr. Schaeffer came to 



GERMANTOWN. 287 

this country in youth and taught school before studying theology. The church 
needed enlargement. The young desired English preaching, but the ancients 
preferred German speech. At times two of Mr. Schaeffer's sons preached in 
English. In 1812 their father took St. Michael's and Zion churches in Phila- 
delphia. Rev. John C. Baker succeeded him. In 1813 this pastor was allowed 
to preach in English every other Sunday morning. In 1817 the Sunday 
school was started, though a portion of the church had been allotted to the 
children before that time and they had used it with regularity. The laying of 
the corner-stone of the church, which now stands among the graves of the dead 
in Christ, took place on March 25th, A. D. 1810. The next month the old 
church was taken away. The new church was dedicated in 1819 on the 21st 
of November. In 1828 Rev. Benjamin Keller succeeded Mr. Baker. The 
statistics show much pastoral work in his eight years of service. He started 
the idea of founding St. Thomas's German Church, which was finally built at 
Herman and Morton streets. At the age of seventy he gave up earthly work 
for the reward of Paradise, and was buried in St. Michael's churchyard, being 
the only pastor who sleeps among this flock. Rev. W. Richards, grandson of 
Muhlenberg, .succeeded Mr. Keller in 1836 and remained till 1845. In 1846 
Rev. S. Mosheim Schmucker became pastor and the German language was 
abandoned in preaching. In 1849 Rev. Charles W. Schaeffer gave up his post 
in Harrisburg to become pastor of St. Michael's. His work was appreciated 
by his people until in 1875, when the veteran withdrew, though still retaining 
an interest in his former parish. He is a professor in the Lutheran Theological 
Seminary in Philadelphia and resides on Main street in German town. Having 
married a Miss Ashmead, of one of the old families of Germantown, his interest 
in the place has been long continued and constant. In the Civil War, the 
parishioners of St. Michael's were prominent, and a number of the brave 
returned to rest in death where they had worshiped in life. The successor of 
Prof. Schaeffer was Rev. F. A. Kaehler, who resigned in 1884. Rev. J. P. 
Deck, a faithful and successful pastor, continues the work. The jjosition of the 
old church building in the rear of the graveyard gives it a picturesque look 
from the street. 

Watson says that of course the first Lutheran services were performed by 
the schoolmaster before they had an ordained minister, as is their custom in 
such cases. In Willis P. Hazard's continuation of Watson it is stated that 
" Rev. John Djdander, of the Swedish Church," laid the corner-stone of the 
first Lutheran Church in Germantown, in A. D. 1737. " He served for a few 
years and was succeeded by Mr. Kraft for one year, Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg, 
succeeding him on his arrival in 1742, and at the same time serving the Phila- 
delphia congregation on Fifth street. After him came Rev. Peter Brownholtz, 
or Brownholz, in 1745, assisted occasionally by two schoolmasters, Mr. Vigero 
and Mr. Schaum." 

There is a tradition that the British, after the retreat of the Americans at 
the Battle of Germantown, when they took possession of St. Michael's Church, 



288 GERMANTOWN. 

tore out the pipes of the organ and ran along the street blowing in them and 
making confusion instead of the heavenly music which they had heretofore 
rendered under devout players on the instrument. A number of Union 
soldiers, as well as Major Lightfoot, who fell in the Battle of Germantown, are 
buried in St. Michael's churchyard. 

As the residents of Germantown look on their monument to Soldiers and 
Sailors at Market Square and think of the brave dead who lie within their 
borders, let them recall the lines of Thomas MacKellar's Memorial Ode, read 
by Rev. Dr. Thomas T. Everett, when the monument was unveiled on July 4, 
A. D. 1883 :— 

" Not they who shout are conquerors alone, 
For they who fall before the day is won 
Are also victors, and the laurel'd crown 
Fitly adorns the warrior smitten down, 
No martyr dies 
A fruitless sacrifice : — 

Heroic deeds 
Are the Immortal seeds — 
Nourished by blood and tears — 

That grow the fruit of liberty 
And conscience free 
Through time's unresting years." 

CHRISTOPHER LUDWIG. 

In St. Michael's churchyard is the tomb of Christopher Ludwig and his 
wife Catharine. A granite top stone is sustained by pillars of granite. The 
wife died in Germantown, in 1796, at the age of 80. Christopher Ludwig died 
in Philadelphia, in 1801, aged 80. The remarkably long epitaph gives a 
resume of his history, with the striking application at its close : " Reader, 
such was Ludwig. Art thou poor? venerate his character. Art thou rich? 
imitate his example." Dr. Rush wrote a memoir of this remarkable man. 
Watson describes him in the Annals. He was " an exemplary and valuable 
citizen." He was born in 1720, " at Geissen, in Hesse-Darmstadt, in Germany," 
to quote the monumental inscription. He was a baker. He had been a sol- 
dier in the Austrian army and had been in service against the Turks. He 
was in the hard siege at Prague. When tlie French conquered it in 1741, he 
entered the Prussian army. When peace came he went to India under 
Boscawen. As a sailor, he voyaged to Holland, Ireland, and the West Indies. 
In 1753, he visited Philadelphia, and made a large profit in a sale of clothing. 
Watson says he came again to this city, in 1754, as a gingerbread baker; the 
monument gives the date of his arrival as 1755. He began work in Letitia 
court, and money came in rapidly. He was industrious and honest and neigh- 
borly, and so influential that he was styled the " governor of Letitia court." 
When the Revolution approached, he was rich, and his money and influence 
were gladly given to his adopted country. He was put on committees and 
served in conventions. When General Mifflin wished to get arms by private 



GERMANTOWN. 289 

subscriptions, and some held back, he called out "let the poor gingerbread 
baker be put down for £200," and overcame the opposition. He was for a time 
a member of the flying camp without pay. He encouraged the soldiers to 
patience, and once on his knees begged them to endure their insufficient ration 
and be hopeful. He asked to have eight captured Hessians given him, and 
took them to Philadelphia, and showed them the five churches of the Germans 
and the comfortable way in which humble Germans lived, and then they were 
sent back to encourage desertions, which frequently occurred. He went to the 
camp of the Hessians on Staten Island as a pretended deserter, to prove to the 
Germans the happy state of their countrymen settled in Pennsylvania. Con- 
gress made him baker-general of the army. They expected him to give a pound 
of bread for a pound of flour. He could have had a pi'ofit in the increase 
weight, which is the result of bread baking, but he would not grow rich by the 
war, and gave back one hundred and thirty-five pounds of bread for each one 
hundred pounds of flour. He often dined with "Washington in company 
with others, and used to confer with him alone as to the supplies of bread. 
The General valued him and styled him " his honest friend." He was blunt 
without offense. The " German accent," originality and wit of this man made 
him popular and privileged in the army. 

In tlie return of peace he dwelt on his farm which was near Germantown. 
Washington wrote " a certificate of his good conduct," which was framed, and 
hung in his jDarlor, and gave him much satisfaction. He once owned eight 
houses in Philadelphia, and had £3000 loaned. He left much to " public charities 
especially, " a fund for educated poor children. He delighted to find out 
objects of charity, and to relieve their wants. In the time of the yellow fever 
of 1793, he went into Fraley's bakery, in Philadelphia, and worked at bread 
baking, gratuitously, to relieve the wants of the poor. He had a great respect 
for religion and its duties, which he said he inherited from his father, who 
had given him, in early life, a silver medal, on which was inscribed, among 
other devices, " The Blood of Christ cleanseth from all Sin." This he always 
carried with him as a kind of talisman ; and with a view to enforce its remem- 
brance and its precepts, when he left it to his family, he had it affixed to the 
lid of a silver tankard, and on the front he inscribed a device of a Bible, a 
plougli and a sword, with the motto, " May the religious industry and courage 
of a German parent be the inheritance of his issue ' " Well does Watson add to 
the account above quoted of him : " Such a man leaves the savor of a good name 
and a good example, to posterity. His remains now rest beneath an expensive 
monument, where the reader may read of his worth, and go, if he can, and do 
likeivise!" His last house of residence in Philadelphia was No. 174 North 
Fifth street. He had two wives, but left no children to survive him. Their 
relations became his heirs. Christopher Ludwig was generally called the 
General. At one time he owned the plantation which in Watson's day 
belonged to John Haines. Watson says, that Ludwig lived in the house next 
to that of Mrs. Sarah Johnson. I find a note in Townsend Ward's MSS., stat- 



290 GERMANTOVVN. 

ing that his residence was next to Dr. Wm. N. Johnson's " directly opposite 
the historic battle ground." He was of a very social character, talking freely 
along the street wdth all he met, and in so loud and strong a voice, as every- 
where to announce his vicinitj' ; so much so that it was usual in families, in 
doors, to say, " There goes the General ! " The frankness which characterized 
him encouraged the woman who became his second wife, to say to him, in 
meeting him in the street, that as she felt concerned for his loneliness as a 
widower, she would offer herself to him for a companion, in case he thought 
it might conduce to their mutual happiness. He took it, as he said, into a 
short consideration, and they became man and wife; she being a good wife, 
and both of them a happy couple, in the opinion of all ! He had but one eye." 
The war injured his property affairs, but he afterward acquired money. He 
left his receipt for gingerbread to those who succeeded him. The inscription 
on the monument states that " he bequeathed the greater part of his estate for 
the education of the children of the poor of all denominations gratis," and 
adds, " He lived and died, respected for his integrity and public spirit by all 
who knew him." This bequest founded two schools called the Ludwig Schools. 
They were on Walnut street,' and under the care of the Friends. He gave to 
Zion Lutheran Church, in Franklin street, a bequest which still furnishes 
bread for the poor in winter. Ludwick Buildings, on Walnut street, above 
Sixth (No. 617), north side, has a stone tablet above its arch marked " Ludwick 
Buildings." " Ludwick's Building " is the original school building altered for 
offices. Charity scholars are still supported by the income of the good man's 
bounty. The Friends yet have charge of the schools, which are on the north 
side of Catharine street, above Fifth. 

-In Dr. Rush's Life of Christopher Ludwick, p. 20, there is a striking descrip- 
tion of his death as follows : " In the last two years of his life he was frequently 
indisposed ; he spent the intervals of his sickness in reading his Bible and 
religious books and in visiting his friends. ■ He spoke often and now and then 
pleasantly of his aj)proaching dissolution. Soon after the death of General 
Washington he was called upon to subscribe for a copy of his life. ' No,' said 
he, 'I will not, I am traveling fast to meet him, I will then hear all about it 
from his own mouth.' On Sunday the 14th of June, 1801, he begged his wife 
to read a sermon to him. When she had finished it he said, ' you will never 
read to me again on a Sunday ; before next Sunday I shall be no more.' On 
the Monday following he was attacked with an inflammation of his breast, ac- 
companied with a high fever. He had held his life for a year or two by the 
tenure of a small and single thread ; it broke on Wednesday, the 17th of the 
month. There appeared to be a revival of the languid powers of reason in his 
last illness; he ceased to speak with a prayer upon his lips." Mr. Ludwick's 
second wife was a widow lady, named Mrs. Binder. Rush's Life of Ludwick 
is in the Library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 



GERMANTOWN. 291 



ST. MICHAEL'S PARSONAGES AND CHURCH. 

The quaint old stone cottage at the northeast corner of Springer and Main 
streets with its half-doors and pent roof is another of the lovable relics which 
still retain an air of former days, and keep up the flavor of the foreign in 
ancient Germantown. The cottage looks as if, like the holy house of Loretto, 
according to the legend, " It had been carried in the air from the old country." 
This was the old parsonage of St. Michael's church, which was invaded by 
British soldiers. It is still owned by the church. The number is 5465. 

Tlie pleasant double stone house just above it on the same "side, marked No. 
5467 is now the parsonage. It was built in the pastorate of Rev. Professor C. 
W. Schaetfer. There was a wooden building on the same site before this was 
built. A side yard joins the graveyard. In the burial ground, which has a 
quiet country look, are a number of graves of the Rex family and the Fry 
family and the Ashmeads and Roots and a large monument to the memory of 
Christopher Mason, who died in 1851, in the 62d year of his age. Anna 
Gottlieben Schneidern lies under an old fiat tombstone on brick pillars. She 
died in -1727. An adjoining stone may be that of her husband. The inscrip- 
tion is blurred. Union soldiers lie in the yard. A shaft near the church 
door commemorates Frederick Hass. The tomb of John Sentz has a design 
of an angel bearing a cross. The church has been modernized and has a neat 
chancel surmounted with the text, " The.Lord is in His Holy Temple, let all 
the earth keep silence before Him." An antique gallery remains to tell of 
olden times. The organ is in the gallery. A cross surmounts the chancel 
arch above the altar. 

A large vestry room, used by the Dorcas Society, and former infant class- 
room, are attached to the rear of the church. The second story was formerly 
used by the Sunday School. An excellent and beautiful new gray stone 
Sunday school building, trimmed with brick, now stands near the church. It 
contains four rooms besides the library, and is adorned with stained glass 
windows. It is finished in natural woods. The cost was about $9000. The 
Rev. J. P. Deck, the present pastor, has kindly guided me through the build- 
ings and given me information about them. The Sundaj' school library room 
has a fine case for the books, which contains a special wooden division for 
each book, so that the volumes are like Monks in their cells. They cannot 
fall on one another and cause disorder. 

Two females, Solone Becher and Susanna Sorber, are commemorated by one 
stone in this graveyard. Jacob Butcher is on the next stone. Laura May 
Hetzel's cradle tomb, with its adornment of daisies plucked to brighten it, shows 
the more recent work of death. Michael Billmeyer's family vault is near the 
front gate. On entering the yard the shaft of the Lyle family meets the e3^e. 

No. 5464 is an old stone plastered building next above the Franklin Inn. 
It was formerly owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Starr. No. 5466 adjoins this and 



292 GERMANTOWN. 

belonged to the same person. No. 5468 is a part of the same building. Mrs. 
Starr owned this building for manj' years and lived in a part of it. She died 
over a half century ago. It belongs to the Carpenter estate. The stone house 
at the northwest corner of Westview avenue and Main street belonged to 
Philip Weaver. After his death George W. Carpenter bought it. It is now 
occupied hj Mr. Wood. 

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

In abridging Ward's work a few lines were given to this parish. It deserves 
a longer notice. The ^Josition of the church building, far back from Main 
street, with its massive stone cross and other monumental stones in its grave- 
5'ard before it, strikes the passer-by. Rev. Luther E. Albert, D. D., the present 
pastor, gave an historical sketch of this parish not long since. In 1836 some of 
the parishioners of St. Michael's Church colonized under Rev. W. N. School. 
Rev. Philip F. Meyer, of St. John's Church, Philadelphia, installed the vestry, 
as Ward stated. They were Thomas Haddon, Henrj' Goodman, Michael 
Trumbauer, David Heist, Henry Nicholas, Jacob Mehl, John Felton, George 
Heist, Jacob Geysel, Charles Heist, George Geysel and Joseph Heist. The 
congregation used the building now occupied by the Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation, at the corner of Main and Mill streets. They bought the lot at the 
corner of Main and Queen streets, and built a church on it. George Wallis, 
of Philadelphia, was the only one of' the first communicants living when Dr. 
Albert delivered his historical sermon. Henry Earnest, son of Henry and 
Maria Goodman, was the first one baptized in the church. The first marriage 
was that of Reuben G. Tomlinson and Hannah K. Shepherd. The first burial 
was of William Saunders. Dr. School was living in Canajoharie, New York, 
when Dr. Albert's discourse was delivered. Rev. Samuel Finckel succeeded 
Dr. School in 1840. He first celebrated the Communion on the 7th of June in 
that }'ear. He resigned in 1844. He was a gifted speaker and kind and 
popular in social life. He died in Washington in 1873. Rev. William F. 
Eyster succeeded Dr. Finckel in 1844. In 1848 many were received into the 
church. A Sunday school and parish building was erected on Queen street. 
In 1851 Mr. Eyster resigned. He is now a jjrofessor in the Augustina 
Seminary in Rock Island. Dr. Albert entered on his work in 1851 and has 
seryed the parish with fidelit}^ and success over thirty-five years. This is his 
first and only parish. The new church was built in his pastorate. The Sunday 
school building on Queen street was sold. The new Church was dedicated in 
1857. Rev. Dr. John G. Morris officiated. Henry Goodman was Sunday, 
school superintendent for thirty-five years and died in the office. Theophilus 
H. Smith is now superintendent. There is a Young People's Lyceum with a 
very large membership. The trustees of this parish are : President, M. L. 
Finckel; Secretary, E. R. Pritchard; Treasurer, E. T. Coxe; Associates, 
Theophilus H. Smith, Samuel Goodman, Charles L. Eberle, William Broom, 



GERMANTOWN. 293 

Joliii T. Monroe, William Garvin and A. Taylor Rittenhouse. The Snyder 
family, who lived near the Chew House, are interred here. There are German 
inscriptions on their flat tombstones in front of the church. An adopted 
child of this family was knitting stockings when the English officers were 
quartered on the household, and feared to lose her precious work, but they 
proved to be kind. She was eight or ten years old. 

" S. W. P.," in Notes and Queries of the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, 
Vol. IX, p. 481, gives Howell Powell's quaint poem on Pastorius. It runs thus : 

•' What Francis Daniel Pastorius 
Hath tane his flight from hence to Olympus 
Lost to his Posterity, ye Germantown specially. 
Loss (tho' great gains to him) it was to many. 
The Hermes, Glory, Crowtii and Linguist's gone. 

Lowly, Lovely, Learn'd, Lively, still content, 
Now free from cares, dire troubles that attend 
This brittle case, the Heavenly quire befriend 
Him still ; joyes in the glorious Lamb, alone 
Seeth the beatific vision. 

^ :{: ^ ^: ^ ?!= 

Tho dead to his corporal form, that sleep, he 
In immortalily needs no reprieve." 

The poem styles him " Scribe and Live Tutor," and " German's Polar Guide." 

" An antiquarian that was far from pride. 

Religious, zealous amanuensis; 

An universal man in arts, sciences, 

Who loved his friends, the Britains ; yea all nations, 

Zealous for the truth, full of compations." 

The poem commends his good example to his descendants. 

Mention was made in a former article in reference to Pastorius, of the edu- 
cation of the grandchildren of Samuel Richardson. The reader who would 
know more of him may peruse in Pennypacker's volume of " Historical 
Sketches" (pp. 243-256), the memoir entitled, "Samuel Richardson, a Coun- 
cillor, Judge and Legislator of the Olden Time." It appeared in Lippincott's 
Magazine in April, 1874. Richardson had a plantation of 500 acres near 
Germantown, where he had horses, cattle and sheep. His wife EUinor died 
in 1703, and probably in 1705 he removed to the city. He married again, 
and lived somewhere about the intersection of Third and Chestnut streets. He 
was an alderman. " The Friends' records tell us that several grandchildren 
were bcfrn in his house, near Germantown." 

The readers of Watson's Annals have noticed his quotations from a writer 
who used the signature " Lang Syne." This was Benjamin J. Leedom, 
according to Scharf & Westcott's History of Philadelphia, A^ol. II, p. 933, 
column 2, Mr. AVillis P. Hazard's 3d Vol. in continviation of Watson's Annals 



294 GERMANTOWK 

(p. 219), gives the name of this writer as William McKay. This is probably 
a misprint, as in Watson's Annals (Vol. I, p. 182, and Vol. II, p. 548), the name 
is given by Watson as William McKoy. He was a teller in the Bank of 
North America, and his interesting articles were printed in Paulson's Advertiser 
in 1828-9. In the appendix of Vol. II (p. 548), Watson commends this writer 
as a model for those who would narrate incidents of old times. In Vol. I, 
(p. 182), he speaks of him as a thinker and reader, with " poetic associations 
and metaphorical imagery." Watson stimulated some of his work. He 
wrote two manuscript books of " characteristics " of his contemporaries. He 
was a man of humor. 

Thompson Westcott, the local historian par eminence of Philadelphia, writes 
me as follows in reply to a query concerning this matter : " ' Lang Syne ' 
quoted in Watson's Annals was William McKoy, teller in the Bank of North 
America. He wrote originally for Poulson's paper about 1828-'29-'30. You 
will find several of his most interesting articles in Hazard's Register. Benjamin ■ 
J. Leedom wrote a series of articles signed ' Lang Syne ' of which I have a 
collection, for one of the Germantown papers. I have quoted him in my 
history, and endeavored to distinguish, whenever I wrote about them, between 
McKoy the old ' Old Lang Syne ' and Leedom the modern article." This letter 
accounts for the two Dromios. 

Watson refers to the Dusimitiere Manuscripts. The marvelous collection 
of the patient Frenchman, covers several volumes which contain the works of 
himself and of others, and they relate to various parts of this country, and also 
to foreign places. In No. 1413, " Y " "I " of the Ridgway Library (papers 
relating to Pennsylvania, New England, etc.), on page 5 we find the following 
note as to the Paxton Boys, who are connected with the history of German- 
town. It is in an " Essay of a Chronology of Pennsylvania." " 1764, Feby., 
4, the alarm caused by the Paxtonians rioters marching in a great body 
towards Philadelphia to murder the Indians that were in the barracks." A 
note in red ink refers to Parker's New York Gazette, No. 1102. The Ridgway 
Library contains a history of this affair, for such as may wish to follow 
its details. 

In Samuel Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, Vol. I, pp. 279 to 284, and 
pp. 289-292, 43 and 335 there are notes concerning Germantown. Watson's 
manuscript is the basis of the information, and Mr. Hazard commends his 
patient toil. Germantown is here described as Springetbury Manor. On 
p. 49, etc., the Hon. Timothy Pickering's account of the Battle of Germantown 
is given from the North American Review. On p. 335, " A Church Member " 
notes that the Methodists preached in a coachmaker's shop which belonged 
to .Jacob Sommers, in the Union School House, and occasionally in the Upper 
School House many years before 1798. A society was formed in 1793, and 
for " several years " there was " regular preaching," by itinerants and " the local 
ministry, in the house afterwards purchased by Mr. Lorain, at the south end 
of the town." This is taken from the " Philadelphia Gazette." 



GERMANTOWN. 295 

Most, if not all, of Watson's notes here given appear in his Annals. For 
General Wayne's account of Affairs at Germantown, see Hazard's Register, 
Vol. Ill, p. 375. For an extended report of the History of the Lutheran Con- 
gregation, in Germantown, and the Lutheran Church at Barren Hill, the 
reader may turn to the above work, Vol. V, p. 193, etc. 

On the 2d day of the 6th month, A. D. 1701, the " Bailif, Burgesses and 
Commonalty of Germantown " petition the Council in Philadelphia to hold a 
public market, as the Proprietary had previously allowed, by charter on the 
6th day of the week " in the road or highway where the road or cross street of 
Germantown goes down toward the Schuylkill. This they think " would re- 
dound to the benefit both of the inhabitants and neighbors." This petition 
was granted. Vol. VI, p. 34. 

In Vol. VII, p. 192, the Germantown Telegraph is quoted to the effect that 
the first gun discharged at the Battle of Germantown was in the hands of a 
British soldier at Mt. Airy. The picket was in a building which was where 
William Cooper's public house afterward stood. The American Army had 
nearly reached the public house of Mr. Mason when the picket discovered it 
in the fog two hundred yards away. One shot his musket, and the ball cut 
off' the small branch of a tree, and dreadfully shattered the wrist of an Ameri- 
can soldier. He was conveyed into a house on the southwest side of the turn- 
pike, a little above Mason's tavern, and the hand was amputated. In the^ 
same volume, p. 16, under date of December 29, 1830, it is noted that Satur- 
day and Sunday were like spring by a remarkable change of weather, and 
" on Sunday morning, the plaintive notes of the blue-bird were quite numerous." 

Vol. IX, p. 48, contains " Statistics of Germantown Town.ship," giving the oc- 
cupations of ihe people at length in a catalogue from the Germantown Tele- 
graph. Tallow chandlers, scriveners and button makers are not forgotten, 
and one is marked a saddle-tree maker. The horses, cows and dogs are 
noted. The account of the opening of the Germantown & Norristown R. R., 
in the same volurne, p. 367, shows that the cars were named " Tiie German- 
town, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Penn Township, Madison, Jefferson, 
Philadelphia, WiUiam Penn and President." There was a car for the band. 
The president and directors were in the " President." These cars were drawn 
by horses. There was a banquet in Germantown, and much enthusiasm was 
shown. In Vol. X, p. 60, it is stated that Baldwin's engine ran a short dis- 
tance on this road at a rate of forty miles an hour, and this was exceeded on 
the subsequent day and over sixty miles an hour was made. 

The bringing in of stone on the new railroad is given as a notable matter 
from Paulson on p. 112. On p. 275, a quotation from the American Sentinel 
tells of a " new engine built by the West Point Foundry Association at New 
York "which was a complete success. On p. 320, the reference to the death of 
William Severn on the railroad, which had taken place some time before, 
shows how that awful list of accidents had already begun. The committee 
appointed to investigate, reported that " no earthly power, person or persons 



29d GERMANTOWN. 

coulij have prevented." He rode a "young and unbridlewise horse which 
became frightened by the approach of the engine, and backing upon the track, 
both rider and horse were ahnost instantaneously killed." 

In Vol. XII, p. 416, the Germantowx Telegraph is quoted to the effect that 
wood and " marketable produce " are higher priced in Germantown than in 
Philadelphia. This was in December, 1833. The number of May 24th, '34, 
quotes from the same paper that probably no such cold has been experienced 
in Germantown for 20 years so late in the spring. There had been frost. A 
farmer had seen ice a quarter of an inch thick. The same paper is quoted on 
p. 412, Vol. XIII, as to a night fire in McLehman's lumber yard, when thirteen 
engine and hose companies, from Philadelphia, kindly rushed out in an hour 
and fifteen minutes. Between four and five hundred firemen came. Hundreds 
of the citizens were on hand to help. 

For an account of the opening of the Germantown R. R. to Manayunk, see 
Vol. XIX, A. D. 1834, pp. 276-7. 

In Vol. XV, pp. 383, 4, the Germantown Telegraph is once more quoted 
concerning a stalk of rye grown on the place of Mr. Jesse Bockius, measuring 
within half an inch of eight feet. Mr. Green and Mr. Botton also had some 
nearl}^ seven feet high. Mr. Botton had a stalk of clover three feet high. 

DEVONSHIRE PLACE. 

Early in this century this beautiful property came into the possession of 
Mr. Blight's family. In 1798 and shortly after that period, when the yellow 
fever prevailed in Philadelphia, those who could seek a residence beyond the 
limits of the city did so. 

The grandfather of the present owner, Peter Blight, was an extensive 
merchant, actively engaged in the tea trade with China. It was necessary to 
be near his place of business. This motive induced him to purchase a 
tenij^orarj' residence on Nicetown lane, where he opened his " counting- 
house " during the prevalence of the fever. During the years 1808 to 1812 
his numerous vessels were upon the ocean, and when the War of 1812 was 
declared, these vessels were captured and destroyed. The large claims his 
descendants have against the Government show how extended was his business. 
This brought great distress upon the family and caused them to make this 
counting-house (Harmony Hall), their permanent residence. 

During these years of trouble, George Blight, Sr., was in Canton, and upon 
the death of Peter Blight, returned to this country, and desiring to live near 
the family residence, purchased what is noM' known as Devonshire Place, in 
1816. 

The former owner of this place was Captain Cochran, engaged in the 
merchant service and retired here for the balance of his days. George 
Blight, Sr., was born -in Devonshire, England, and had all the tastes 
for countrjr life so prevalent there. At this period this land was considered 
strictly fit only for agricultural purposes, his object was to cultivate, improve 



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GERMANTOWN. 299 

and adorn it by planting choice varieties of trees, to which he added the 
raising of fine cattle. The present owner can well recall the herds of Short- 
horn, Jersey and Holstein cattle that pastured on his lawn in those early daj'S. 
In 1834, George Blight, Sr., died, and upon the division of his estate this 
property passed into the possession of his son George, who has endeavored to 
carry out the design of his father in keeping up the character of the property. 
In 1842 the present mansion was erected on the site of the old house, whose 
date of erection was in 1797. The former house was large and spacious and it 
was not the intention of Mr. Blight to rebuild, but it was found that so many 
repairs were necessary that the outlay would almost equal the cost of a new 
house and therefore he determined to reconstruct the whole. Increase of 
population and the value of land, induced Mr. Blight to dispose of certain 
portions suitable for building purposes. Mr. Blight has devoted his life to the 
cause of agriculture ; its promotion in all branches; the raising of fine cattle 
and the production of large crops. In 1847 the Farmers' Club had its origin 
at Devonshire Place. This organization still exists, a long period for one of a 
social character. During Mr. Blight's prolonged absence in Europe, the house 
was occupied by different families until 1881, when he returned to the old 
homestead. 

In chapter 422 of Westcott's History of Philadelphia, it is stated that Dr. 
Witt bui-lt the first three-storj' house in Germantown at East Walnut lane and 
Main street, which has been described in these articles as the Blair House 
and the Manual Labor Academy. .John George Noer's house was nearly 
opposite. In chapter 516 is an account of the artist, Gilbert Stuart, in which 
occurs the following ; " Some of his portraits of the first President — copies from 
the head — were painted by Stuart at Germantown, at which place he had a 
little building erected for a studio and painting room. He also painted 
a portrait of ]\Irs. Washington at that place." This was at William Wynne 
Wister's place. 

In " A History of Education in Pennsylvania," reaching back to Swedish 
times, by James Pyle Wickersham, LL. D., on p. 81, we find a notice of Ger- 
mantown as follows : " A school was established by the Dutch and German 
Friends at Germantown in 1701. Arent Klincken, Paul Wollf, and Peter 
Schumacher, Jr., were the ' overseers,' who collected the subscriptions and 
provided for opening the school. Francis Daniel -Pastorius was the first 
schoolmaster, and Germantown has probablj^ never since had one so learned." 

His knowledge in languages and science is highly spoken of On pages 142 
and 143, it is noted that in the founding of Germantown Academy the 
Germans were prominent among the Trustees and " among the most liberal 
contributors." "A German department was organized, of which Hilarious 
Becker was master." On page 482, it is stated that " the three oldest schools 
of a secondary grade in Pliiladelphia, are the William Penn Charter School, 
the Germantown Academy, and the Protestant Episcopal Academy, the first 



300 GERMANTOWK 

dating 1689, the second from 1760, and the last from 1785." An account of 
the Germantown Academy follows and a picture of the building. Dr. Egle, 
in his History of Pennsylvania, has also given a picture of the ancient 
Academy. On page 429, the Rev. John Monteith is mentioned as the head of 
the Manual Labor Academy in Germantown. This was described heretofore 
in these articles, and an account of Rev. Dr. Junkin's good w^ork w^as there 
given. 

In the first series of Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Vol. X, p. 517, there 
is an order of the Council of Safety in May, 1716, that salt shall be moved to 
Germantown, "and stored under the care of the Committee of that town." 
On pages 596-7 of the same volume, James and Owen Biddle are authorized 
to secure store houses for salt, "saltpetre and other articles belonging to the 
Province," which might he sent to Germantown for safety. On page 660, we 
find Joseph Ferre requested to deliver salt to "John Mitchell, Commissionary 
for Victualing the Navy." 

The Nice family are old residents of Germantown. In the Colonial Records, 
Vol. XIV, p 671, we find this note: "John Nice's resignation of his office of 
Justice of the Peace for Germantown and Roxborough townships, in the 
county of Philadelphia, was read and accepted." The date is April 3d, 1786. 
In Vol. XV, p. 432, the following occurs : " A letter from John Nice, Esq., en- 
closing his commission as major of the second battalion of the militia of the 
county of Philadelphia, informing Council of his intention to remove himself 
and family to the Susquehanna river and praying leave to resign his said 
commission, was read and his resignation accepted." The date is "Saturday, 
April 12th, 1788." Samuel Hazard deserves great credit for his toil in pre- 
paring an index to the Colonial Records and Archives, which guides the 
seeker after historical details. 

The "charter granted to the inhabitants of Germantown in 1691" is in the 
Pennsylvania Archives, selected and arranged by Samuel Hazard, Vol. I, 
pp. 111-115. The following quaintly spelled expression follows William 
Penn's signature : " Signed by the witliin named William Penn, and sealed 
with the Lesser Seale of the within menconed Province." 

In Vol. IV, p. 731, the committee of safety writes to Peter De Haven thus : 
"Sir, the State of this Province is such at this time with respect to arms, that 
the Committee of Safety think it very improper to suffer any arms to be sold 
to go out of this Province, and being informed that a certain Mr. Frailey, of 
Germantown, has a number of arms for sale, which he has offer'd to Mr. 
Johnson Smith for the Virginians, we do therefore request you would apply to 
Mr. Frailey, and acquaint him with the opinion of this board, and also to- 
purchase all the said arms which can be made fit for service, allowing a. 
reasonable price for the same." 

In Vol. V, pp. 206 and 225, General Gates orders Col. Melcher to appoint 
" a proper person to quarter the troops that are to march to Germantown."' 
The date is January 31, 1777. 



GERMANTOWN. 301 

A letter of General Washington to President Wharton, written at the " Head 
■Quarters, Germantown," is given in the same volume, pp. 617-618. Thoiuas 
Wharton, was President of the State of Pennsylvania, when the capital of the 
State was at Lancaster, in 1777. General John Armstrong's letter to President 
Wharton, about the defeat at Germantown, is on pages 645 and 647, and a 
letter from him to Council on military operations near Germantown in Vol. VI, 
pp. 70-72. It notes that General Irwin had three fingers shot off, and "fell 
from his horse." General Read had his horse shot, but escaped himself. On 
page 128, John Morgan, Jr., writes to Y. P. Bryan thus : " I understand that 
all the stocking weavers are still at Germantown with their looms, and out of 
work, supposed to be about one hundred, also six or seven tanners, who have 
large tanyards full of leather, part of which is nearly tanned ; they might 
easily be removed. Query, are they not objects worthy of notice of Council. 
Should the enemy determine to stay or leave Philadel[)hia this winter they 
will probably destroj' them, which would be a great loss to this State." The 
letter is dated Reading, December 23d, 1777. 

The last notice is in Vol. VII, p. 94, of John Delary, a jDrivate, wounded at the 
Battle of Germantown, who had been in " the hospital in Readingtown," who 
asked the Committee of Safety for back pay. He had lost one of his legs. 
How many of these wounded, maimed men remembered this sad battle all 
their lives ! 

Lambert Lare, of Haines street, informs me that when he came to German- 
town about fifty years ago there was much wood cut in the surrounding coun- 
try, and before the days of coal firewood was an important trade in the place. 
It was often sawed in the street. Some sixty years ago, David Moyer lived at 
Roxborough, on the Ridge pike near the nine-mile stone. He made a stove 
to burn coal in his house for heating, which was considered a wonderful thing 
in that day. Mr. Lare thinks he was the inventor of the process of cutting 
nails, as he was a blacksmith, and made wrought nails, and sold them in the 
city, and constructed a machine to cut the nails. He was a very skillful 
mechanic, but never took a patent for nail cutting. He constructed a gun from 
old horse shoe nails. A cut nail i'actory was established afterward about the 
mouth of the Wissahickon. The early cooking stoves were those of Beach, 
and afterward Finehower (?). 

Thomas W. Evans, Esq., the father-in-law of General Huidekoper, has a 
pleasant stone mansion with a lawn before it just above the Chew House on 
the same side of the Main street. The ground is very high here, and Mr. 
Evans has been building some good dwellings in this location. 

Miss Elizabeth Richards has a country place opposite, which she uses as a 
summer residence. The mansion is of stone, and has a roomy and comforta- 
ble appearance. It is just above the Johnson place named Upsal, on the same 
side of the way. 



302 GERMANTOWN. 

Among the older residents of Germaiitown, Mr. Joseph Green, opposite 
Major Freas's former residence, deserves mention. The famity have long 
lived in the town, and been known as hatters. Townsend Ward speaks of 
this family. Mr. Joseph Green's son now conducts the ancestral business. It 
is an .English way to hand down an occupation from father to son, and it is 
pleasant to see it in this countrj^, as it indicates satisfaction and contentment 
when one continues in his father's line of business. Miss Mj'-ers, at Mrs. Kulp's, 
on Centre street, is another person whose age has permitted her to see many 
changes in Germantown. Her father owned property on Chelten avenue. 
Some aged persons have died during the collection of these notes before I have 
been able to see them. So the graves from the Upper and Lower Burying 
Grounds, and the soldiers' unmarked resting places teach us of mortality, and 
warn us to prepare in Christian faith for another and abiding city when our 
earthly record is closed. 

As to improvements, in all these passing years, an old resident informs me 
that formerly lanterns were carried in the streets at night by those who were 
obliged to be out. Now the electric light scorns such devices of " Ancient 
Germantown." Still, London once had her link-boys to guide her citizens at 
night with their torches. 

" THE COEVY," THE RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM WYNNE WISTER. 

(Contributed.) 

The quaint old-fashioned house situated on the southwest side of the Main 
street of Germantown, about half-way between Bockius's and Indian Queen 
lanes (by modern nomenclature, Manheim and Queen streets), was originally 
owned hy Dr. William Shippen, formerly a large land-holder in the town and 
its vicinity. He owned the adjoining tract now jjart of the estate of the late 
Casper Heft, as well as " Carnaervon," the summer residence of Mr. Wister 
Price, and much other property on Manheim street. En passant, it may not 
be out of place here to mention that the lot adjoining " Carnaervon," at the 
corner of Manheim street and the Township line road, was rented by Mr. 
Shippen, a successor to Dr. William Shippen, to Col. John M. Price, the father 
of Mr. Wister Price, for agricultural purposes at a rental of one ear of corn per 
annum, on condition that the lessee should plant forest trees thereon — Mr. 
Shippen holding native trees in high esteem — which condition was conscien- 
tiously observed. This is the only instance of paying rent in kind within my 
experience. The property referred to passed from the hands of Dr. Shippen 
into the ownership of James Logan, of Stenton, by whom, in the year 1750, it 
was devised to his daughter, Hannah, the grandmother of the late Mr. John 
J. Smith, of Shoemaker lane. Later in its history it came into possession of 
Samuel Bringhurst, who, having had two daughters, one of whom married 
William Lehman, son of Benjamin Lehman, well known to old Germantown 
residents, and the other Samuel Ashmead, son of Capt. John Ashmead, officer 



GERMANTOWN. 303 

in the Revolutionarj' army, Messrs. Lehman and Ashmead became joint 
owners. From the descendants of these 'it was, in the year 1849, purchased 
by the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this brief sketch. 

The historical interest in " The Corvy " centres in its having been occupied, 
between the years 1790 and 1795, by the great artist, Gilbert Stuart, rendered 
forever famous by having put upon canvas the best likeness ever made of the 
immortal Washington. A small stone building in the rear of the dwelling 
was appropriated by Stuart for his studio or atelier, and here, within its ivy- 
covered walls, did the father of his country sit to him. Probably there is no 
precedent in history of an event of similar importance having been consum- 
mated in so hmuble an apartment. The date of the sitting is the summer of 
1793, when Washington, in order to escape the yellow fever epidemic, then at 
its height in Philadelphia, took up his abode in Germantown, occupying the 
Perot house, opposite Market Square, now the residence of Mr. Elliston Perot 
Morris. All of this is confirmed by the daughter of Gilbert Stuart in hfer 
Memoirs of her father, as well as by local tradition. " The Corvy " stands 
retired from the Main street of the town, having a lawn in front shaded by 
gigantic maple trees, which add greatly to the attractiveness of its appearance. 
Since 1849, being the home of a gentleman of retired habits, its history has 
been uneventful. 

THE FOUNTAIN INN. 

The hotel thus designated (already referred to in one of Mr. Hotchkin's 
papers) was situated on the Main street of Germantown, nearly opposite to the 
Germantown and Norristown Railroad depot, and adjoined " Vernon " on the 
northwest. It was the scene of the following incident of village life about 
three-fourths of a century ago : During the war with England, in 1814, the 
military spirit was as enthusiastic in Germantown as it was in the memorable 
days of 1861-2, to the predominance of which we can most of us bear testimony. 
Since it was as desirable at the former as at the latter period that this spirit 
should be encouraged and moulded into some practical fonu in which it might 
be serviceable to a suffering country, it was resolved by the patriots of the 
town that a company of volunteers be raised who should hold themselves pre- 
pared to fly to her defense at a moment's notice. Accordingly, this enterprise 
was set on foot, and chiefly bj^ the energj^ of one man, William Ent (Endt in 
the old records), a company of seventy-five recruits was raised, ardent for the 
fray, mustering under the title of " The Germantown Blues," to which Ent 
was appointed orderly sergeant, his modesty having prevented his acceptance 
of the captaincy. 

A military organization in the village having become a reality, it was meet 
that some public demonstration be made, and the presentation of a flag of the 
most approved style was determined upon. Here again was the energy of the 
orderly conspicuous, for he, together with the lieutenant of the company, 
Wilson (landlord of the Fountain Inn), constituted a committee empowered 



304 GERMANTOWN. 

to act as they thought most desu-able in order to secure funds necessary' to 
carry the proposition into effect. The lieutenant and orderly, therefore, deter- 
mined to set out on a begging expedition, and forthwith commenced the 
unwelcome task. 

The next question to decide was to whom to apply to head the list in order 
to secure a liberal contribution, well knowing the force of example in such 
cases. The lieutenant suggested that they had as well begin with the nearest 
house. This happening to be Mr. W.'s, the orderh^ remonstrated, reminding 
him that the well-known Quaker principles of the proprietor would leave them 
little hope from such an application. The lieutenant prevailed, however, and 
back the long carriageway they trudged, though with the discouraging pros- 
pect of an unsuccessful attempt before them. Their modest tap was promptly 
answered, when they were informed that Mr. W. was not at home, but that 
Mrs. W. would see them, who immediately presented herself. The object of 
the visit was stated and the subscription book presented. After reading the 
title page Mrs. W. retired, but soon reappeared with a bank note, wliich she 
haiided them. This, though not examined in her presence, was nevertheless 
received with profound gratitude, but when its true denomination was ascer- 
tained the applicants were so convinced that it had been given them by mis- 
take that their honesty would not permit them to keep it, and they accordingly 
retraced their steps and returned it. Mrs. W., upon receiving it, admitted 
that she had indeed made a mistake and withdrew, soon returning, however, 
with one exactly double the amount, which she handed them with the remark 
that their high sense of honor fuUj^ entitled them to the additional contribu- 
tion, and that she wished to make this acknowledgment of her appreciation 
of it. The collectors took their leave, not only with a high respect for the 
generositj- of the donor, but with much elation at the success of their first 
application. A sufficient sum being soon collected to warrant the ordering of 
the flag, it was resolved that when completed it should be handed over to the 
ladies of the town, and that the presentation should be made from the steps of 
Mr. Blair's house (afterwards Col. Alexander's, now Miss Burkhart's, corner of 
East Walnut lane and Main street), being a central situation, and that the honor 

of presenting it should devolve upon Miss M. R (Miss Mary Roberdeau, 

daughter of Major Roberdeau, who married Rev. Dr. Blair's daughter), cele- 
brated for her beauty. Mr. C. J. W. was requested to compose the address, which 
Miss M. R. committed to memory, and the twenty-second of February was 
selected as a suitable day for the ceremonies to take place. Much solicitude 
was entertained on the part of the " Blues " on account of their ensign, Barwell, 
upon whom devolved the duty of receiving the flag, lest when confronted by so 
handsome and dignified a lady as MissR. his embarrassment should so far get 
the better of him as to render him incapable of performing his part of the pro- 
gramme. As the event proved, however,, their anxiety was superfluous, for the 
presentation as well as the reception addresses were delivered in excellent taste. 



GERMANTOWN. 305 

and the whole affair, which was witnessed by a large portion of the inhabitants 
of the village, passed off in the most satisfactory manner. c. j. w. 

Germantown, Gth Mo. 25, 1887. 

In Rev. Andrew Burnabj'^'s " Travels through the Middle Settlements in 
North America " in 1759 and 1760, we read : " Carlisle, Lancaster and Ger- 
mantown, consist each of near five hundred houses ; there are several other 
(towns) which have from one to two hundred." The writer also saj's : "The 
Germantown thread-stockings are in high estimation, and the year before last, 
I have been credibl}^ informed, there were manufactured in that town alone, 
above 60,000 dozen pair. Their common retail price is a dollar per pair." 
The Rev. Mr. Burnaby was a (Jhurch of England clergyman and Yicar of 
Greenwich, England, and two editions of his book were published in London 
in 1775, and " printed for T. Payne, at the Mews-Gate." An edition was pub- 
lished in Dublin and a third edition in London in 1798. This shows a great 
interest in North America at that time. 

As to the German influence in the advancement of the infant colony of 
Pennsylvania, Governor George Thomas of the Province, wrote to the English 
Bishop of Exeter, in 1747, that he believed that the Germans constituted three- 
fifths of the population. The whole population was 200,000. He says: "They 
have by their industry, been the principal instruments of raising the State to 
its present flourishing condition, beyond any of his Majesty's Colonies in 
North America." Bishop Perry, of Iowa, quotes this in " Papers Relating to 
the History of the Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania " : " The late Prof. T. 
Daniel Rupp, in his edition of Dr. Benjamin Rush's " Manners of the Germans 
in Pennsylvania," adds in a note, that Pennsylvania led the Colonial States as 
to agriculture, because of her " many German settlers." He adds : " In 1751, 
there were exported 86,000 bushels of wheat, 129,960 barrels of flour, 90,743 
bushels of Indian corn. The total exports of 1751 exceeded in value one 
million of dollars." Prof. Rupp also quotes Proud's " History of Pennsyl- 
vania " to the effect that the Germans seemed better adapted to agriculture and 
the Irish to trade. Proud states that Germans got estates as soon as industry 
and economy would procure them. Dr. Rush states that when they came in 
large bodies a clergyman came with them. They did not leave their religion 
at home. Rev. George Michael_ Weis, V. D. M., and Rev. Johann Casper 
Stoever were among the clergy who thus emigrated. Schoejjf says that the 
German built his chimney in the middle of the house to economize in stove- 
pipes. An Englishman might build a chimney at each gable end. The Ger- 
mans had smoke-houses or a loft to keep apples above their milk-houses. 
Trego declares that the Germans " wisely chose some of the best land in the 
State." The Germans were noted for their desire for good schools. The large 
German barns are spoken of by Dr. Rush. The kindness and hospitality of 
these people is noteworthy. 



306 GERMANTOWN. 

Dr. Rush quotes Tacitus to the effect that the Germans in ancient times 
left a space between the houses in their villages, either to guard against fire 
or from lack of skill in architecture. He adds : " Many of the German vil- 
lages in Pennsylvania are constructed in the same manner. The small houses 
are composed of wood, brick and clay, neatly united. The large houses are 
built of stone, and many of them after the English fashion. Very few of the 
houses in Germantown are connected together. Where the Germans connect 
their houses in their villages, they appear to have deviated from one of the 
customs they imported from Germany." 

Dr. Rush extols the agriculture and manufactures of the Germans, and 
holds them up for examples of imitation to the other inhabitants of Pennsyl- 
vania, and appeals to the Legislatures of the United States and the Legislators 
of Pennsylvania to learn lessons from them. 

In the Reverend Morgan Edwards's " Materials towards a History of the 
American Baptists," pp. 68-71, will be found a history of the church at " Beg- 
garstown." The abundant labors of the first minister of this Dunkard congre- 
gation, Rev. Peter Baker, are noted. He was a German. Mr. Edwards's book 
was published in A. D. 1770. 

Rev. Alexander Mack succeeded Mr. Baker. He was a German by birth. 
He came to America, " with many of his congregation, in 1729, and became a 
minister of Beggarstown the same year. He married Anna Margareta Kling 
by whom he had children, Valentine, John, Alexander (now minister of Beg- 
garstown), who married into the Hildebrand, Sneider and Nise families, and 
have raised him many grandchildren. His fourth child was Anna, now a single 
sister at Ephrata (there was a religious sisterhood among the Tunkers at 
Ephrata). Mr. Mack was a man of real piety. He had a handsome patrimony 
at Schrisheim, Germany, with a profitable mill and vineyards thereon, but 
spent all in raising and maintaining his church at Schwardzenan whereof he 
was father and the father of all the Tunkers." Rev. Alexander Mack bearing 
the same name as his father, succeeded him as minister of this parish. He 
married Elizabeth Nise. He was " a sincere good man." 

Rev. Christopher Sower was born in 1721 at Lasphe, in Wingeinstein. He 
assisted the last-named Mr. Mack. " He married Catharine Sharpneck." His 
children were Christopher, Daniel, Peter, Catharine, Esther, David and Samuel. 
Mr. Edwards's description of the religious life at Ephrata among the Tunkers 
is interesting. Their simple dress and meekness and grace and soft tone in 
conversation and gentle and obliging deportment are described. " Their sing- 
ing," he writes, " is charming ; partly owing to the pleasantness of their voices, 
the variety of parts they carrj' on together and the devout manner of perform- 
ance." There was a Brotherhood here, then numbering fourteen, while the 
Sisterhood had eighteen members. The chapel of the sisters was called Sharon, 
and that of the brethren, Bethany. The brethren and sisters worshiped 
"morning and evening, and sometimes in the night." 



GERMANTOWN. 307 

There was " a common church called Zion, built on the summit of a little 
hill. Here the single brethren and single sisters and the married people and 
their children meet once a week for public worship. The brethren have 
adopted the dress of the White Friars with some alteration ; and the sisters 
that of the nuns; and both, like them, have taken the vow of ceUbac}\ But 
some break through the vow. Then they quit their cells and go to the neigli- 
borhood among the married people. All the fraternity wear their beards. 
Their livelihood they get by cultivating the land, by a printing office (the 
Ephrata printing press is at the rooms of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania), 
by a grist mill, a paper mill, an oil mill, etc., and the sisters by spinning, 
weaving, sewing, etc. They slept at first on board couches with blocks for 
pillows, but now sleep on beds, and have otherwise abated much of the severi- 
ty of their order." 

Mr. Edwards's book (pp. 96-97) notices the Germantown Mennonites thus : 
" May 23, 1708, there was a church settled at Germantown consisting of fifty- 
two members which exists to this da}"-, and is not only the first in the province 
but in some sort the mother of all the rest." The minister was Rev. Jacob 
Godtschalk. " In about sixteen years after, this church had branched out to 
Skippack, Conestogo, Greatswamp and Monatony, and become five churches ; 
to which appertained sixteen ministers." The Tunkers of Ephrata, who have 
been here described, sometimes visited their brethren in Germantown. 

The Annals and Archives of Pennsylvania may be found in the Friends' 
Library, Germantown, and those who can read the language of Holland may 
also find in Pieter Kalm's Travels, published in Utrecht, in 1772, an account 
of Germantown as that traveler saw it. William Kite has secured the volume 
for that Librar}^ which is under his care. The Library contains two volumes 
of the Journals of the Moravian Missionarj' to the Christian Indians, Frederic 
Post, who is buried in the Lower Burying Ground of Germantown. The first 
volume has also an " Enquiry into the Causes of the Alienation of the Dela- 
ware and Shawnese Indians from the British Interest, and into the Measures 
taken for Recovering their Friendship," from Treaties, etc. On the title page 
is the autograph of the celebrated Charles Thomson. 

James Logan appears as one of those treating with the Indians. There is 
an account of the Indian Walk in the first volume. William J. Buck has 
lately issued a book on that subject. The fact that the good Charles Thomson 
was the secretary of the noted Indian chief Tedyuscung in negotiations, makes 
the volume in the Germantown Library doubly interesting. 

THE INDIAN MISSIONARY, REV. FREDERIC POST. 

As to Mr. Post, he was selected to pacify the Ohio Indians. The book thus 
describes him : " He was a plain, honest, religiousW disposed Man, who, from 
a conscientious opinion of Duty, formerly went to live among the Mohicon 



308 GERMANTOWN. 

Indians, in order to convert them to Christianity. He married twice among 
them, and lived with them seventeen years, whereby he attained a perfect 
knowlege of their Language and Customs. Both his wives being dead, he had 
returned to live among the white People ; but at the Request of the Governor 
he readily undertook this hazardous Journey. How he executed his Trust his 
Journal will show." He started from Philadelphia. He was successful in 
inducing the Indians not to join the French in attacking General Forbes. 
The journejf was a matter of danger and difficulty, and reflects honor on this , 
devoted man. 

An extract on a jjrinted slip in a fly leaf of the first volume states that Rev. 
Dr. William Smith attended Mr. Post's funeral at Germantown on May oth, 
1785. He returned to Philadelphia " with Dr. (afterward Bishop) White, in 
his chair." The article states that Post had worked among the Moravian 
Indians in New York and Connecticut. His first ' wife was Rachel, of ttie 
Wampanoag tribe. After she died, Agnes, a Delaware Indian became his 
second wife. She died, and in 1751 he " returned to Europe." In 1752 he 
went to Labrador, striving unsuccessfully to carry ihe Gospel to the Esquimaux. 
In 1754 he was back in Bethlehem, Pa., and was sent thence to Wyoming to 
preach to the Indians. In 1758 he performed the embassy described in the 
Journal to the Delawares and Shawanese in the Ohio country. Its result was 
"the evacution of Fort Duquesne by the French and the restoration of peace." 
In 1761 he had an independent mission among those Indians, and built " a hut 
on the Tuscarawas, near Bolivar, in Stark county, Ohio." John Heckewelder 
went to him in 1762. The Pontiac war drove away the missionaries. In 1764 
this indomitable man went to the Musquito coast and preached to the natives 
more than two years. In 1767 he made a visit to Bethlehem, returned to 
Musquito, and " was in Bethlehem, for the last time, in 1784. At this date he 
was residing with his third wife, who was an Episcopalian, in Germantown. 
Here he died, May 1st, 1785. On the 5th of May his remains were interred in 
the Lower Gravej^ard of that place. Rev. William White, D. D., of Christ 
Church, saying the funeral service." He had labored " in the Gospel forty -five 
years with distinguished Zeal, Prudence and Fidelity," as the inscription on his 
tombstone states. He died at the age of seventy-five years. Germantown is 
honored in holding the body of such a Christian hero in one of her ancient 
cemeteries. 

Post made a second journey to the Indians of the Ohio to complete his 
peaceable mission, and the second volume of the work described contains the 
second journal, with its new fatigues and difficulties and dangers, as the French 
were regaining their influence. The " Advertisement to the Reader " in " The 
Second Journal," says : " These Journals also aff'ord us a fresh Instance of the 
Power of Religion, and a Sense of Duty, above Self Interest, in inducing 
Men to undertake, and supporting the Mind in the most dangerous Enterprises 
for the Public Service ; and also, of the Power of Honesty above Art, in 
influencing the Minds of others, calming their savage Passions, and ruducing 



GEEMANTOWN. 309 

them to Reason, and to Peace." Post's conduct was so upright that the Indians 
gave him " the character of an honest Man, whose Word they miglit safely rely 
on." As a result of tliis good man's embassies the French were forced "to 
abandon the whole Ohio Country to General Forbes, after destroying with their 
own Hands their strong Fort of Buquesne. 

Both of the volumes under review were published in London, the first, in 
1759, was printed for I. Wilkie, at the Bible in St. Paul's Churchyard. The 
second volume, in the same year, is marked " at the Bible and Sun," which 
seems to indicate a double sign. The volumes are now verj^ rare. 

One article of Dr. Peter D. Keyser's on the Upper Burying Ground has been 
treated of. A second one in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. IX, p. 
62, etc., gives the names and dates of the tombstones yet standing. The task of 
preparation was commendable, though laborious. The change of names by the 
passage of time is noticeable. Schreiber, becomes Shriver and Shryber, and 
Bauman, Bowman, and Steinbuener, Stoneburner. Zachariah Poulson, editor 
of Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, and his wife and some children w^ere 
buried in this yard. 

Marquis de Chastellux, in his " Travels in North America," Vol. I, 206, says 
of Germantown, " Germantown is a long town, or village, consisting of a single 
street, not unlike La Villitre, or Vauginard, near Paris. From the first house 
at the south, to the last, at the north end of the town, it is near two miles and 
a half." He spent a pleasant day at the Chew House. He saw the marks of 
cannon balls on the house and three mutilated statues in front of it. It should 
be mentioned that the Chews did not receive remuneration for their loss. See 
Scharf and Westcott's Philadelphia, Vol. I, p. 386. De Chastellux was an aid 
of Geiieral Lafayette, and the same volume, p. 290, gives an account of another 
visit to Germantown with Lafa3'ette and the Vicomte de Noailles, and the Comte 
de Damas. The two last named had never been there before. A A'isit was also 
made to Whitemarsh and Barren Hill. 

In Townsend Ward's MS. notes, a reference to Joseph Reed's life by "William 
B. Reed, Vol. I, p. 880, leads me to look up the point, w'hich he makes of a 
visit to Cliveden by the Earl of Carlisle. The Earl w^rites about it to George 
Selwyn, and there is a reference to " George Selwjm and his Contemporaries," 
by John Heneage Jesse. The Earl describes the heat of Philadelphia, in June, 
as greater than that of Italy, as far as his memory of Italy goes. But let us 
quote his account of an early ride : " I have this morning at 5 o'clock been 
taking a ride into the country about ten miles, grieved am I to say, eight miles 
bej^ond our possessions. Our lines extend onh' two, and the provincial army 
is posted very strongly about six and twenty miles distant. This is a market 
day, and to protect the people bringing in provisions w^hich otherwise they 
should not dare to do, large detachments, to the amount of about two thousand 



310 GERMANTOWN. 

men, are sent forward into the country. We also profited by this safe guard, 
and I attended the General, Sir Henry Clinton, as far as Germantown, a place 
as remarkable and as much an object of curiosity to those who have any respect 
for the present times, as Edge Hill or Naseby Field, is to those whose venera- 
tion is only excited by their great-grandfathers." 

Lord Carlisle was one of the commissioners from England, but Congress 
refused to treat with them. Chapter 16 of Reed's life has an account of the 
Battle of Germantown. An account of this battle, by an English officer, will 
appear in the October number of the " Pennsjdvania Magazine of History." 

At the corner of Limekiln road and Haines street, was the country seat of 
John Andrews for many years. He was the son of Rev. Dr. John Andrews, 
formerly Provost of the University of Pennsylvania. The mansion afterwards 
fell into the possession of Mr. Steel, who owns the stock farm near. 

The graveyard on the north side of Haines street, at the junction of the 
Limekiln road, belonged to the Betton-Forrest estate, and passed into the 
possession of Mr. Tryon, and was afterwards sold for a Soldiers' Cemetery. The 
little old graveyard whose wall bounds the south side of Haines street, near 
Stenton avenue, was surrounded on three sides by the Abraham Kulp 
property. 

The following is from Townsend Ward's manuscripts: 

Mrs. Fishell, in Duval street, in the insurrection of St. Domingo, was an 
infant. To secure her escape, opiates were administered that she might utter 
no cry to betray her, and placed in a basket, she was thus smuggled aboard a 
vessel. She was brought to Germantown. In time she grew up ; others joined 
her, perhaps a niece. They executed beautiful needlework. They lived in 
poverty almost, but their rooms were kept with the utmost nicety and even 
elegance. They had, long ago, a little shop on the avenue above Poor House 
lane. 

In the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. VI, pp. 342- 
343, Townsend Ward gave a bit of Germantown history which I will here 
quote : " On Indian Queen lane, to the west of Township line road, is a struct- 
ure of stone, which, long ago, was used as a blacksmith's shop. It is said of it 
that when the British were at Germantown in the Revolution, their farriers used 
it as a smithery for their cavalry. In recent years the building has been 
enlarged, and is now a tenant's dwelling house. It is on a place of some forty 
acres, in what in Colonial times was called ' liberty lands.' The property lies 
about half a mile north of ' Devon,' Blight's place. In 1702, it was owned by 
Henry Hill, a Philadelphian, long engaged in business in the Island of Madeira. 
Returning here, he built for a residence that fine old house on the east side of 
Fourth street, north of Union. He died of yellow fever in 1798. In 1802, 
Archibald McCall acquired the place, and made efforts there to improve the 
breed of sheep. He had imported Merinos, and dogs to protect them, but it is 



GERMANTOWN. 311 

remembered that some of the dogs played the part of their cousin, the wolf. 
In 1808, the place passed from McCall to Gi'iflfith Evans, whose son, Dr. Horace 
Evans, now has it for his country residence. Bj' these successive owners the 
mansion house has been enlarged, but its identity is established by the preser- 
vation in the building of one of the original stones of the house. This bears 
upon it the chiseled mark of ' 1732,' the date of erection of the oldest portion 
of the house. 

" When the American Army was at Yellow^ Springs, Chester county, the 
youthful Grifhth Evans, born the third of September, 1760, in Warwick, Chester 
county, went into the service and became attached to the Medical Department. 
In his long after years of peace, a campaigning story he used to tell to his 
compatriots, was of one McKaraher, who was also in the Medical Department. A 
number of the young men connected therewith were riding out one day during 
the War, when, on coming near a field where hemp was growing, their Hiber- 
nian friend, McKaraher, hurriedly rode away. Of course he was questioned as 
to the cause of this sudden movement, and his humorous answer was, pointing 
to the field of hemp : ' Do you see yon ? Irishmen do not like yon ! ' In 1787, 
Griffith Evans was Secretary of the Commissioners to settle the difficulties in 
Wyoming, and accompanied Timothy Pickering to the troubled region. After- 
wards he was appointed Secretary to the Board of Commissioners to whom was 
entrusted the adjustment of claims of British subjects, under Article Sixth of 
what is known as Jay's Treaty of 1794. The Commissioners' office was in a 
building belonging to Kearney Wharton, No. 3 South Sixth street. No prac- 
tical result seems to have been reached by the Commissioners, whose labors in 
the course of a year or two ceased. Griffith Evans died in 1845, in the eighty- 
sixth year of his age. 

" Near to Dr. Evans's place, only one lot intervening, was that of the hand- 
some Irishman, Washington's favorite. Colonel Walter Stewart. He called his 
place * Mount Stewart,' and there he lived with his beautiful wife, Blair Mc- 
Clanachan's daughter. The Colonel's house in the city was in Market street, 
below Sixth, the next house east of Washington's place of residence." 

For a picture of an old house near Germantown, where tradition says that 
Penn preached, see Thompson Westcott's History of Philadelphia, in Scrap 
Book form, in the Pennsylvania Historical Society Rooms, Vol. I, chapter 35. 
There are two dwellings in the quaint, old-fashioned picture. For an account 
of the foundation of Germantow^n, see chapter 88. Crefelt, north of Chestnut 
Hill, is here also spelled Creveld. We will quote the boundaries: 

" Germantown began fourteen perches four feet below^ Dannenhower's, now 
Shoemaker's lane, and ended at Abington road, now called Washington lane, 
and had 2750 acres. Cresheim began at Washington lane and went to Lime- 
kiln road, near the Mermaid Inn, 884 acres. Summerhousen extended from 
Limekiln road to about one-eighth of a mile above Chestnut Hill gate, 900 
acres. Crefelt from thence to Streper's mill where the turnpike crosses the 



312 GERMANTOWN. 

Wissahickon to Germantown township line, 1166 acres. Total acres in German- 
town township, 5700." 

" Gresheim road ran an irregular course, tending to the northeast, beginning 
at Millner's road, west of the Main street, and finally entering into the Main 
street some distance above the limekiln road." 

" The Germantown market place, containing half an acre, was granted by 
James Delaplaine to the bailiff, burgesses and commonalty of Germantown and 
their successors forever, January 11, 1704." 

Townsend's " old grist mill, on Mill street or Church lane, * * * ^qw 
known as ' Roberts ' mill," is the subject of an illustration in cliapter 39. 

The old house built by Heivert Papen, in 1698, at the northwest corner of 
Main and Johnson streets, has its antique picture, with its hipped roof, and 
lean-to and dormer windows and projecting roof over the door in chapter 43. 

The old Friends' Meeting House, at Fair Hill, Germantown road, built in 
1707, has its picture in chapter 73, and Trinity Church, Oxford, is shown in 
chapter 74. 

For an account of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Germantown, see chapter 
188. It states that the Rev. John Louis Voigt, had been a preceptor and an 
inspector in the Orphan House at Halle. 

In chapter 196, Vol. II, we find the following, which place was noted by 
Ward in his manuscript, as well as other points here spoken of 

" In January, 1764, citizens of Germantown held a meeting at the Town 
Hall, in order to consult together in regard to the means of protecting themselves 
from the ravages of fire. They were situated at a considerable distance from 
the fire apparatus of Philadelphia, and the roads at that time were frequently 
so bad that no assistance could have been derived from the city fire companies. 
It was, therefore, resolved to form three separate fire divisions in Germantown 
and its neighborhood, and the fire companies which were formed were called 
the ' Fellowship of the Upper Ward,' ' Fellowship of the Middle Ward ' and 
' Fellowship of the Lower Ward.' Subscriptions were taken up to purchase 
apparatus, and money enough was collected to send to England for three Land 
fire engines, but by some misfortune the order was not fully completed. When 
the engines arrived one was sent to Germantown ; but of two others, one went 
to Bethlehem and the other to Frankford. The companies afterwards received 
their apparatus, however. In subsequent years the names of the three com- 
panies were changed as follows : That of the Upper Ward, instituted March 
1st, 1764, was named the Franklin Fire Compan}'-; that of the Middle Ward, 
instituted March 5th, 1764, was named the Washington Fire Company ; and 
that of the Lower Ward, instituted February 20th, 1764, was named the Col- 
umbia Fire Company." 

In chapters 202 and 203 David James Dove,. the Germantown Academy 
teacher, is noted, and his fugitive pieces are mentioned. They were " satirical 
and political poems." " Mr. Fisher speaks of one, ' Washing the Black Moor 



GERMANTOWN. 313 

White,' as being the only known production of Dove's satire which has been 
preserved." 

The poet, Thomas Godfrey, Jr., son of the inventor of the quadrant, is 
noticed in the same chapter, and his works are mentioned by name. 

In chapter 215 John Meng, the young Germantown artist, who died at the 
age of twenty, receives due notice. 

In chajjter 217 Cliveden is noted. These five large volumes of newspaper 
articles show an immense amount of labor on the part of Thompson Westcott, 
for which he deserves great honor, as his work will always be helpful to local 
historians. 

ROCHEFOUCAULT. 

The Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt was a virtuous and philosophic 
French nobleman who visited this country. His travels were translated into 
English and published in two large volumes in London by R. Phillips. H. 
Neuman was the translator. The book was issued in 1799. In the second 
volume, p. 390, etc., the Duke pays his respects to Germantown. The heat in 
Philadelphia rendered the place oppressive, and Congress ceased to awake his 
curiosity. In leaving the city he pays a parting visit to Mr. Nicklen, a good 
Englishman, who had given him much attention, and who had married a Miss 
Chew. He lived in the summer on a handsome country seat on the Schuyl- 
kill, called Hill, and having a delightful prospect. We will quote his narra- 
tive : " The road to Germantown is upon the ascent, the summit of the hill on 
which that little town is built being two hundred feet higher than the bed of 
the Delaware, although the distance is only seven miles. The lands, though 
not of the first quality, are sufiiciently productive ; the vicinity to Philadelphia 
making it easy to get manure, while the high price of provisions in that city 
encourages the farmer to lay out such expenses as may insure the best and most* 
abundant returns. 

"All the way to Germantown the houses are close together, the properties being 
so valuable as to prevent them from being very extensive ; there are a few of 
the farms which exceed two hundred acres. Stone abounds in this district and 
is found at a very small dej^th ; it is uniformly micacious free stone. Of this 
all the houses are built. Those buildings would not be reckoned handsome in 
Europe. They are good small houses, without elegance and without ornament ; 
but in the point of size, as well as distribution of the apartments, they afford 
their proprietors everything that comes under the denomination of convenience 
and comfort. Most of them are country houses for the relaxation of the inhabi- 
tants of Philadelphia. 

"Germantown is a long village near two miles and a half in extent. The 
houses to the number of about three hundred, are all built on the side of the 
highwaj', and are erected pretty close to each other. The lands in all this 
district cost from an hundred and sixty to two hundred dollars the acre in whole 



314 GERMANTOWN. 

farms ; some particular acres, situated on the roadside, sell for from four to five 
hundred dollars. I was even told that it is not easy to procure it at that price, 
and I was shown a field of a dozen of acres, the proprietor of which estimates 
it at eight hundred dollars the acre. The culture of this part of the country 
is better attended to than in those parts which are at a distance from large 
towns, but it is far from being in that state of cultivation which it would be in 
Europe, near so good a market as that of Philadelphia. They raise a good deal 
of wheat, and still more Indian-corn, but very little rye or oats. All the 
produce which is not consumed in the farmer's family, is carried to the market 
at Philadelphia in consequence of which provisions are as dear at Germantown 
as in the city, to those who are obliged to purchase them. Nay, they are often 
even dearer ; as the farmers who go to Philadelphia, where they are sure of 
getting quit of all their commodities, frequently refuse to sell any part of them 
on the road. Beef, for example, which is seldom higher at Philadelphia than 
eleven pence, costs fifteen jDence at Germantown. All this country, and for a 
considerable way further is inhabited principally by Germans, and descendants 
of Germans." 

The Duke speaks of the aversion of Germans to change their customs, even 
for better ones, but acknowledges their industry and their laboriousness. He 
goes on thus : 

" They manufacture in their families at Germantown a great quantity of 
woolen, cotton, and thread stockings, which the farmers carry to market at 
Philadelphia with their provisions and which are reckoned very durable. 
There are also some tan works at Germantown. We find here a Lutheran and 
a Presbyterian Church, besides a third for the Quakers ; an Academy, and two 
other schools of considerable repute. I stopped at the house of my excellent 
and respected friend, Mr. Chew. This house is celebrated as an important 
scene of action in the battle of Germantown in 1777." 

Here follows a notice of the contest at the house, and the effect of the 
skirmish on the building, and the sale and repurchase of the property by 
Mr. Chew. The Duke proceeds as follows : 

" Labourers receive, in the environs of Germantown, a dollar a day of wages 
during hay making and harvest. The women employed to turn the hay are 
paid half a dollar a day, all besides their diet, which is equal to half a dollar 
more. This diet consists of coflfee or chocolate, with ham, to breakfast; fresh 
meat and vegetables to dinner ; tea and ham for supper, and a pint of rum 
during the day. This is tlie manner in which labourers are fed in America, 
and if this diet appears expensive to those who employ them, if this expense 
prevent them from being able to employ a great number, it is gratifying to see 
how well a class of men, reckoned the lowest in Europe, is treated in this 
country, the only one where a man, whatever be his profession, is treated with 
respect; where all ranks are considered as men. We may be told that were 
our European labourers fed with coffee and fresh meat they would not work 
better, or be better content. It is, in the first place, not true that they would 



GERMANTOWN. 315 

not work better and be more happy if they were better fed ; and it is still more 
certain that were they treated with more respect and more attention they 
would consider themselves less debased; they would become better; they 
would feel with pride that they were a more noble branch of society, and con- 
sequently would be more interested in its preservation. Let us hope that the 
French i-evolution may, in tliis resjject, operate a happy change in the lot of 
the laborious class of mankind. Witliout this liberty would be only a word 
without meaning, a pretext for disorder. A cord of oak wood costs six, and a 
cord of hickory from eight to ten dollars, at Germantown. Thus the lands 
covered with wood, which in the more distant parts are of much less value 
than other grounds, are here the most valuable. The wood from hence is 
carried to Philadelphia principally in the winter time ; the river not being 
navigable, it could not be conveyed by it." 

The Duke continues his notes on the road to Bethlehem. It is remarkable 
how much information Rochefoucault gathered in passing through German- 
town, whether by stage or private carriage. If by stage, we may imagine his 
queries to driver and passengers. If the reader wishes to know more of this 
remarkable man let him turn to Disraeli's Curiosities of Literature, Vol. I, 
pp. 172-3. 

An interesting account of the battle of Germantown may be found in John 
Hamilton's Republic, Vol. I. 

THE MENG FAMILY. 

I am indebted to Miss Hanna Ann Zell for the following information : She 
is the great-granddaughter of John Christopher Meng, who was born in Man- 
heim, Germany, September 22, 1697, and came to this countr}^ and settled in 
Germantown, and on August 24, 1728, took the oath of allegiance as the 
Colonial Records of Pennsylvania show. He married Anna Dorothea Baumann 
(born Baroness Von Ebsten, 29th of June, 1723, and died October 17, 1785). 

Samuel Michael Dorgahe, " Preacher of the Reformation," gave a certificate 
that Mr. Meng, " Burgher and Master Mason," and " his honorable house- 
wife," were faithful in their religion and " in the use of the Holy Sacrament 
of the last Supper." John Christopher Meng had seven children. Franklin 
B. Gowen, Esq., is a direct descendant of this family, through his mother. 
John Meng, the son of John Christopher Meng, was a limner in the term of 
the day. He went to the West Indies to get colors, which could not be pro- 
cured here. He was but 19 years old when he made this voyage. He painted 
a picture of himself, and of a lady to whom he was engaged, which was un- 
finished, and one of his father. The forefinger of the artist's left hand is 
extended, as an old lady declared that having been stung by a wasp it could 
not be bent. He was an artist of skill. Copies of these pictures of the father 
and son maj^ be seen at the rooms of the Germantown Library Association. 



316 GERMANTOWN. 

John Melchior Meng used to ask his children the text of the sermon on 
Sundays, and if they failed to give it, they lost their dinner. He was a 
brother of the artist. John Melchior Meng married Mary Magdaline Colladay 
(in German Maria Jallendin). Anna Dorothea was a daughter of this marriage. 
She married Hugh Ogden. John Melchior Ogden was a son of this family. 
He was a Manager of the Spring Garden Institute and of the Northern Dis- 
pensary, and of the Grandom Institution and of other benevolent organi- 
zations. He was a member of the Friends, and stood high in the community. 
He died in 1882. A memorial volume was published to honor his memory. 
He was one of the originators of the House of Refuge. 

Mrs. Hugh Ogden, Avhen a child living next to Vernon, was brought up to 
sit on a stool with no back. Hence she was verj' erect all her life, and her 
age exceeded 90 years. Her straight-backed chair is in Miss Zell's residence. 
In extreme age she would sit so erect in it that she would not touch its back. 
Hannah Ogden, daughter of this lady, married Thomas Zell, a member of the 
Friends. He was a hardware merchant, whose word was his bond. He was 
one of the originators of the meetnig-house at Spruce and Ninth streets. His 
Christian character was of a high order. His memoir has been published. 
His son is Col. Elwood Zell, the publisher, who resides in Church lane, Ger- 
mantown. 

A most interesting heirloom in possession of the decendants of the Mengs is 
an old German Bible, in clear print, bound in pig's skin, with brass corners 
and clasps. It is in excellent preservation. On the outside of the cover the 
letters J. C. M. and A. D. M. are stamped, indicating the first owners, John 
Christo{)her and Anna Dorothea Meng. The Bible was printed in Nurem- 
burg, A. D. 1725. A written note in German on a fly leaf in front reads: 
" This book have I bought in Manheim of Mr. (name not clear), book- 
binder, upon the market for five guilders. May 12, 1727." Signed " John 
Cliristopher Meng." Underneath this is written another note saying that 
"this Holy Bible was inherited by John Melchior Meng from his father, 
John Christopher Meng." The son signs this, and so the Good Book did its 
work from generation to generation. 

Dorothea Ogden had a son named Jesse, who died unmarried. He was a 
literary person, and belonged to the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia and 
kindred societies. He was a manager of the Apprentices' Librarj' and of 
other organizations. The Ogdens throughout the country are largely connected 
with this family. 

The coat of arms of the Ogden family was given by Charles the Second, to 
the family as a reward for sheltering him in the oak tree. The tree is a part 
of it and the Latin motto is Et si ostendo nonjado, that is, " And if I make a 
show I do not boast." Another Ogden coat of arms is marked in writing 
" Oak den or Oak-Dale, Ogden." Of Mrs. Dorothea Ogden, a motto was given, 
" the kind sister and the good housewife," in a society of which she Mas a 
member, and she deserved it. 



GERMANTOWN. 317 

Mr. Charles E. Smith, the former President of the Reading Raih'oad, and a 
distinguished botanist, is a descendant of the Meng family, and rightly inherits 
his ancestor's love for horticulture, described by " M," in the Gardeners' Monthly 
of September, 1884, which treats of Mr. Meng who lived next to Vernon. 

Mr. Rittenhouse Fraley, telegraph operator of Lafayette Street Police 
Station, was born in "William "\\^'nne Wister's house. He says that the walks 
of the town were very uneven before the bricks were laid, and the people 
were some time in learning to use them. In walking over the bricks they 
would imagine that they were trying to escape the former holes, and ste}3 like 
persons uncertainl}-, leaving a ship. Mr. Fraley has spent his life in this town. 
He says that Christopher Jungkurth was the first maker of the Germantown 
wagons, though another has been named in these papers as having that 
honor. Mr. Fraley is the grandson of Henry Fraley named in Watson's 
Annals, as known familiarly by General Wa.shington, who used to spend much 
time in his carpenter shop. Mr. Henry Fraley, made drums and other 
materials for the Government. Mr. Rittenhouse Fraley has two ancient 
chairs which belonged to his grandfather. His impression is that Manheim 
street took its name from his grandfather's farm which was called Manheim 
Farm. The grandfather was from Germany. The old farm-house has dis- 
appeared. Mr. Sellers bought the small farm of Henry Fraley "s estate. 
Coleman Fisher next purchased it, and erected the comfortable mansion 
which is now occupied by Dr. Lee. This was long the abode of the late John 
S. Littell, Esq., and is yet in the hands of the family. Dr. Hewson occupied a 
house which stood on the site or forms a part of the mansion built bj' Mr. Fisher. 
He was only a summer resident of Germantown. The Fraley familj' never 
resided on this farm, but Henry Fraley lived where St. Stephen's Methodist 
Church stands on Main street. His carpenter shop stood where the parsonage 
is now located. A private wagon-road ran between the carpenter shop and 
Jungkurth 's carriage shop, which was just above. The parsonage also covers 
the road as well as the site of the carpenter shop. The carriage shop still 
stands. The chairs named are said to have been used bj' General Washington 
in his visits. Thej' look cosy as they stand on the piazza in their old age. 

Mr. Henry Freas, the grocer, at the corner of Washington lane and Main 
street, has been longer engaged in the grocery business than any one else in 
this city, having pursued it for fifty-nine years, as clerk and principal. He 
is a brother of P. R. Freas, the founder of the Germantown Telegraph. 
Four years were passed by him in apprenticeshij) to Daniel Pastorius, who 
once owned Dr. Dunlon's place, which had belonged to his father who was 
also named Daniel. The son went into the grocery business as a clerk in 
Philadelphia in 1827, on Market street, above Tenth. Mr. Freas was born at 
Marble Hall, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He came to German- 
town in the summer of 1832, and opened a store for himself in July of that 



318 GERMANTOWN. 

year, one month before he was twenty-one years of age. This was the cholera 
year in Germantown. Mr. Freas says that for forty years, before his coming 
to the town, no house had been built in the town, and the buildings were not 
kept well painted. A carpenter named Curry, who was a journeyman, and 
who helped Charles Pastorius in putting up the shelves of Mr. Freas's store, 
died within twenty-four hours after finishing his work, of cholera. There was 
a larger proportion of deaths in Germantown from cholera, according to the 
population, than in the city. There were over thirty cases, and about half 
resulted in death. The streets w^ere so muddy that the people used to walk 
single file in the middle of the turnpike. Mr. Freas's first store was where 
Guyer's cigar shop is, a little below his present location. He afterward moved 
to a house opposite, on Main street, at the end of Tulpohocken street, and 
afterward, in 1846, to his present store. 

Property was very low at that time, and a thousand dollars would purchase 
a large amount. The side pavements were resisted on account of the expense 
at first, but Wyndham H. Stokes was influential in getting an act through 
the Legislature to effect this work, and he made the first improvements of 
consequence in forty years in Germantown. He lived near Main street where 
Maplew^ood avenue now is. He built a stone house with pillars on rising 
ground, which has now disappeared. Real estate improved rapidly after the 
railroad was opened in 1832, and the pavements were laid. 

Me. W. J. Buck informs me that in the Southern "War, about 1861, he drove 
from Willow Grove to Germantow^n, and noticed a block of brick buildings be- 
ing erected by a Mr. Langstroth, three stories in height or more. He expressed 
surprise that such an undertaking should be entered on in such dull times, 
and received the reply that it was no more strange than the means which 
enabled Mr. Langstroth to build them. It w^as then told him that this 
gentleman's father had discovered a special process to bleach beeswax white, 
so that it might be vised properly for making candles, but he kept his dis- 
covery a secret and acquired wealth by it, though he took out no patent. Mr. 
James F. Langstroth, of Main street, informs me that his father, Piscator 
Langstroth, was once in business with Mr. Elliot. He adds that the wax 
w^as put into a kettle with water. The water was added to keep the wax from 
burning. Wax is more inflammable than oil. The melted wax w-as put into 
a tin box, which had holes in the bottom, which allowed it to fall on a roller 
which revolved in water. It was then placed on cloths and exposed to the sun. 
Three meltings were necessary before the operation was complete. It was 
broken up in the morning before the sun arose to heat it. The dirt would fall 
into the water. The w^ork was conducted on the York road, just below 
Fisher's lane. About two acres were fenced in, the fence being about twelve 
feet high. Mr. Langstroth improved the business bj' a use of water after 
separating from Mr. Elliot. The wax was largely sent to Mexico for making 
church candles. Mexico was at war with Spain and had trouble as to the 



GERMANTOWN. 319 

procuring of candles. It is Mr. Langstroth's impression that the yellow wax 
was sent from Mexico and bleached here and then returned in cakes. When 
the war ceased the traffic died away. 

Piscator Langstroth was a paper maker, when paper was made by hand. 
He was engaged at McDowell's Mills, on the Pennypack, on the Newtown 
Railroad. He afterwards came to Livezy's Mill, on the Wissahickon, and 
carried on the business in connection with his brother John. Piscator Lang- 
stroth was like Charles Sumner, a man of extraordinary sti'ength, having 
lifted seven fifty-sixes and a twenty-eight pound weight with one hand. He 
could have lifted more had the weights been at hand. He could lift a full 
barrel of cider and drink from the bung hole. Piscator Langstroth died in 
1861, at the age of 71, in the house now occupied by the Working-men's Club, 
on Chelten avenue. He married Eliza Lehman, daughter of Benjamin Leh- 
]nan, Sr., who lived in the old stone house on Main street, near School lane, 
occupied by Dr. Topley, as a dentist's office. Mrs. Langstroth died at the age 
of 83, in the year 1876. They were both members of the Dunker Church. 

The houses noticed by Mr. Buck were, we think, being erected by Benjamin 
L. Langstroth, a son of Piscator Langstroth. It is supposed that these houses 
were Vernon Hall and those adjoining. They were built on the Hocker 
estate. George Barr was a tenant of a building which stood on a part of 
this ground. He was well known in Germantown. 

One of Piscator Langstroth's family married a Drexel, and another Count 
Fortunata J. Fouguera. 

The First Presbyterian Church, on Chelten avenue, is on the site of 
what is known as George Barr's spring, which was enlarged to a fish pond by 
Piscator Langstroth. On what is now Chelten avenue, in front of the location 
of the church, was an old barn, the mortar of which was made of clay and 
straw, showing antiquity. 

"In 1876, the old and well-known State House Bell was removed to make 
room for the great bell presented by Henry Seybert. It was taken with the 
clock and placed in the station house at Germantown. Occasionally the in- 
habitant of other parts of the city visiting Germantown is startled by the 
sound of the bell when striking the hours. The tone was so peculiar and well 
known that it could not be forgotten by those who were accustomed to hear it 
before 1876, and it brings to mind the sounds of other days." Thompson 
Westcott's History of Philadelphia. 

In Baily's Life of the famous English divine. Dr. Thomas Fuller (p. 23), I 
find a remark which may be applied to the stocking industry, long famous in 
Germantown. As the English City of Northampton made good shoes and 
stockings, or " stockens," as it was spelled by him. Dr. Fuller remarked, "it 
may be said to stand on other men's legs," but as he was very fond of a pun, 



320 GERMANTOWN. 

the old and the newer town must excuse the jest. Fuller's remarks on the 
great trouble which he underwent in gathering the materials for his famous 
history of the English church may find an echo in the mind of any one who 
__strives to write historical details. 

TULPOHOCKEN STREET. 

The following is from Townsend Ward's manuscri7)ts : — "When Mr. John 
Fallon brought about the Water Works of Germantown, he opened Tulpohocken 
street and planted trees along it, and others on the back part of the lots. 
These latter are now, although thirty j'ears old, hardly larger than those on 
the street were when but three or four years had passed after their planting. 
At this time those on the street have the appearance of trees of the original 
forest. This fine growth was the result of two causes. Along the street the 
pits for the roots were dug deep and wide. Besides this a lead i^ipe, connected 
with the water supply, was laid along the street, and where any tree was, a 
puncture with a pin was made in the pipe, and twice a day the water was 
turned on to nourish the trees." 

The following is also from Mr. Ward : — " Arent Klincken's house stood on the 
west side where Tulpohocken street now is, and was removed that the street 
might be opened. It was two stories in height and of brick. One of these is 
preserved by Mrs. John Fallon, and has cut upon it, ' A. K., 16.' This was 
done in the clay before the brick was burned, as is evident from a critical 
examination. The bricks would seem, therefore, to have been made here. 
They are of a large size. William Penn attended the raising of this house." 

It should be added that Watson speaks of this as a stone house, and the 
oldest Germantown houses were generally of stone. 

About where Mr. Bolton lives the worthy colored shoemaker, Jno. Douglass, 
lived in an old log house, which has disappeared. 

The property spoken of in this note of Mr. Ward came into the possession 
of Justus Johnson. The old house is said to have been the first two-story one 
built in Germantown. Penn dined at the raising of it. — See Watson's Annals, 
Vol. II, p. 20. An old house which stood some distance back of the present 
one may have been the house of Penn's day. The stone house in which Mrs. 
Peterson now resides, which has been tastefully modernized, was the abode of 
Justus Johnson, who married a Miss Morris, the sister of Mrs. John S. Littell, 
and of the Misses Morris who lived at the corner of Main and High streets. 
The house of Justus Johnson is on the west side of Main street, and south 
side of Tulpohocken street. There was a farm of seventy acres here. Tulpo- 
hocken street was cut through by the Fallon brothers, who bought the prop- 
erty and opened the street and established the water-works. John Fallon 
married a daughter of Justus Johnson. He died not long since. 

Watson says that " Arents Klincken came from Holland with William 
Penn in his first voyage in 1682. He died at the age of 80." His son Antony 



GERMANTOWN. . 321 

was a great hunter and had a house next to that of his father. Vol. II, p. 20. 

Watson speaks of the bodies in the rear of Justus Johnson's house after the 
Battle of Germantown. Vol. II, p. 38. 

Next below this is the house of Enoch Taylor, which Anthony John.son 
built for his daughter, Mrs. Agnes Tliomas. Anthony Johnson married Suisan 
Rubicam. The land once belonged to Martin Weaver. Mr. Thomas MacKel- 
lar has sent me the Norkistown Weekly Herald, of October 10, '87, pub- 
lished by Morgan R. Wills. It contains a history of that paper which was 
established in 1799. Charles G. Sower, a grandson of the founder of The 
Herald, and Robert Iredell write the sketches, diaries G. Sower's narrative 
pertains to our subject. David Sower, Sr., a younger son of Christopher Sower, 
the Germantown preacher, writer, printer and publisher commenced to issue 
the paper then known as The Gazette. In 180S Charles Sower, the oldest 
son of David Sower, Sr., and an able and genial man, took charge of The 
Her.'^ld. He afterward moved to Uniontown, Maryland, where he started a 
paper called The Engine op Liberty. He died in that place. David Sower, 
Jr., brother of Charles, had possession of the paper after a time, and also pub- 
lislied books. 

The present lai'ge stone mansion, above the Franklin School, is a fine build- 
ing, with a pretty lawn below it. The Fraiiklin school is also a massive stone 
building. This proj^erty is owned by a company, and Mr. George A. Perry is 
the principal of the institution. 

In closing the history of Germantown proper, various pictures rise be- 
fore the mind as this magnificent suburb is contemplated ; first the wilder- 
ness, and the beast and the savage, next the honest German, raising his stone 
house to shield his household. The early traveler then saw an extended line 
of such dwellings, with their strips of tillable land. Penn beheld the begin- 
nings of the town. Afterward came the glorj^ of Stenton, the noted country 
place of James Logan, yet dignified in its old age. Loudoun afterward arose 
to keej) it company. The Tolands and Loraines meet us as we pass along 
Main street, and the Henry house, and that of Mr. Hacker and the Wister 
house, opposite Queen street, and Vernon at Chelten avenue, and the Duval 
place and the Chew house and Upsal, and now the Germans and their succes- 
sors are crowded on by a host of pretty cottages and stately mansions. The 
old Mennonite and Dunkard churches are plain by the side of the grander 
buildings which have risen to honor Christ. May the German faith and 
industry not be forgottenin " modern " Germantown ! 

In closing a work like the History of Ancient Germantown some postscripts 
are needed to complete the notes. Count Rochefoucault has been spoken of; 
more can be learned of him in the Hon. Horatio Gates Jones's History of Rox- 
borough, in scrap-book form, at the Historical Society rooms, in Philadelphia. 

George Lippard, the author, died on the 9th of February, A. D. 1854. 

Samuel Harvey's place ran from Main street back to Township line. 



322 . GERMANTOWN. 

Rev. Prof. Charles W. Schaeffer informs me that Major Witherspoon, of the 
New Jersey Brigade, slain in the Battle of German town, is buried in St. 
Michael's Lutheran churchyard. 

The village of Manheim was laid out at the southeast corner of the present 
Manheim street. It included " Caernarvon " (tlie residence of the late Mr. Wistar 
Price), and other properties in that neighborhood. 

The Littell place on Manheim street, occupied bj"- Dr. Benjamin Lee, son of 
the late Bishop Alfred Lee, of Delaware, is named Elton, after Anthony Elton, 
a former resident of Burlington, New Jersey, who was an ancestor of the 
Littell family. Anthony Elton married Susan, the daughter of Thomas 
Gardiner, who was the first Speaker of the House after the provinces of East 
and West Jersey were united. The mother of John S. Littell, Mrs. Susan 
Littell, is buried in St. Mary's churchj^ard, Burlington, near the grave of her 
son's best and truest friend, Bishop Doane. It is a pleasant coincidence. 

.Justus Johnson lived in the store recently altered, near 'the south corner of 
Main street and Tulpohocken. The latter street was opened through his farm. 
Justus Johnson had three children living, a daughter named Ann, in Balti- 
more, Mrs. John Fallon, in Philadelphia, and Anthony, who married Miss 
Dorsey, and lives on a plantation in Maryland. 

The following copy of family genealogy which has been kindly sent me, is 
very interesting : — 

Justus Rubicam and wife, nee Susanna Rittenhouse, owned and lived on a 
farm on Washington lane, Germantown, which farm afterwards and probably 
still belongs to the Unruh family. They left six daughters and one son. — Ann- 
or Nancy married Christian Donat, an extensive lime burner of White Marsh 

or that neighborhood. — Catherine married Sheetz, of White Marsh. Gen. 

Henry Scheetz and Ann Scheetz, wife of Jacob Rex, of Chestnut Hill, were 
their children. Margaret married John Gorgas, of Wissahickon. The late 
Samuel Gorgas, of Roxborough, was their son. Julia married Peter Gorgas, 
of Wissahickon. Their descendants are the Gorgases, of Mt. Airy. The above 
Gorgases were brothers. Sarah married Nathan Levering of Roxborough, 
and had two children, Deborah and Susan: the former married Rev. Horatio 
Gates Jones, the latter, Dr. Riter, of Roxborough. Susannah married Anthony 
Johnson, of Germantown. Their children were Agness, married to Daniel 
Thomas, of Wissahickon ; Klincken, married to Lydia Tybout, of Delaware ; 
Justus, married to Abby Willing Morris, of Philadelphia. Justus Rubicam, the 
son, married Elizabeth Dull, of Spring Mill. They had one child, Justus, and 
he one child, Daniel Rubicam, now living. 

It is worthy of being added to tliis genealogy that the Rubicam family are 
commemorated in the name of an avenue in Germantown, and a station on 
the Newtown Railway. 



GERMANTOWN. 323 

KLINCKENS. 

Arents Klincken was convinced of the Friends' principles by the ministry 
of George Fox, Robert Barclay and William Penn, when they were traveling 
in Holland on a religious visit. He emigrated from Holland to America 
about the year 1696 and settled in Germantown. He had one son and two 
daughters. His son Anthony and his wife Bilke (or Abigail) had one daugh- 
ter, named Agnes Klincken, who married John Johnson. One of Arentz's 
daughters married Mr. Tunis and the other Mr. Williams. 

THE JOHNSONS. 

Dirk (in English Richard) and Margaret Johnson (originally Jansen) came 
from Holland about 1700 and settled in Germantown. Of their children, 
Ann first married Matthias Lukens, afterward Thomas Pedro. Katharine 
married Caspar Wistar. Their daughter married a Haines. John married 
Agness Klincken. Rebecca married Henry Benakiu. Richard married Ann 
Binckley. Children of John Johnson, Agness Klincken, Abigail and Dirk 
died young. Anthony married Susanna Rubicam. John married Rachel 
Livezey (Washington lane and Main street branch). Joseph married Elizabeth 
Norton (Dr. Wm. N. Johnson's branch). 

Mr. Joshua R. Johnson kindly contributes the following pleasant reminis- 
cences : 

" In my early days, dating back to 1812, there were three houses in Justus 
Johnson's yard, now Tulpohocken street. Two of them were 50 feet, more or 
less, west of the water company's office. The third, a mere hut, fronted on 
the Main street at the upper corner of the yard. It was of logs, plastered 
between, and was a comfortable dwelling. The other two were of stone, and 
had very high pointed roofs. 

" The one in front was the largest, the back one being probably used for a 
kitchen, by the first owner. They were of dark stone, irregularly laid, and 
pointed with white. Some of us old residents regretted their destruction, as 
we did that of the old house at Johnson street, with its nearly two centuries 
of hallowed years. It could have been made a very neat residence without 
changing its outlines. May we hope that others of its age will meet a better 
fate ! The house now owned and occupied by Enoch Taylor was built early 
in the present century by Anthony Johnson for his daughter Agnes, who 
married Daniel Thomas Miller, of Wissahickon. Anthony was the father of 
Justus and Klincken Johnson, for the latter of whom the Carpenter place, 
with its wealth of forest trees, M'as planted. The house was never built, and in 
course of time, from the vicissitudes of fortune, it passed into other hands. 
He held the meadows in the rear nearly to the township line, living with his 
interesting family in a pleasant cottage west of Green street, south of Carpen- 
ter street. It now belongs to the estate of John Welsh, deceased, and is being 
rapidly built up, with fine improvements. 



324 GERMANTOWN. 

To return to the old houses on Justus Johnson's place : the log-house was 
a cooper shop, Charles Shuster being the occupant. His wife was a Miss 
Mysinger, of Chestnut Hill. They were industrious people, and raised a large 
family.. Then a colored man, John Douglas, and his wife Lucy, lived there 
many years. John made and mended shoes. Many is the time the writer 
sat and listened to his yarns while he pegged away at his shoes. John was a 
warm Abolitionist, and took and read the Liberator, an ardent admirer of 
Garrison, Phillips and all the earnest anti-slavery men who started the ball 
that eventually rolled over and crushed the life out of slavery. John left Ger- 
mantown, and I think lived to see the fruition of his hopes and prayers. Peace 
to his ashes. The other houses had laborers' families in them, who earned a 
living at work on the adjacent farms, for there were several quite large farms 
in Germantown fiftj'' years ago, and where stood apple trees, corn and wheat 
fields, we now see city rows of red brick houses, huge- factories and stores, 
churches and halls, with all the variety of a great and growing city. The 
reader of this may admire the change ; the writer does not, and would rejoice 
to see the old apple orchards and corn fields in their rustic beauty and useful- 
ness restored, but that may never be. So with the quiet resignation of phi- 
losophy, and the consolations of religion, we submit to the inevitable. 

ANOTHER VETERAN PLEASED. 

A subscriber in Columbia county writes us, in regard to the Telegraph : 
" It is a most interesting and valuable paper, especially the ' History of Ancient 
Germantown.' It brings me back to my boyhood days over sixty j'ears ago, 
when I used to go from my native birth-place, Philadelphia, to Germantown 
as it was then. What a change has taken place there in that time. It is now 
over fifty years since I have seen that old, ancient town. It almost makes me 
feel young again when I think of the times I used to walk there and ride in 
the old-fashioned leather spring stage coaches, before railroad days. I think 
my first ride bj^ rail to j^our beautiful town was in 1833. I am an old man 
now, in my seventy-third year, yet it does me good to think of the surround- 
ings of Philadelphia as they were when I was quite a small boy. Wishing 
you success with so valuable and interesting a paper, I remain, 

Yours, etc.," 



Chas. H. Mason. 



Canby, Columbia Co., Pa., Dec. 1, 1887. 



THE UNRUH HOUSES. 

Directly back of the Chew place lies the farm of the late William and 
Esther Unruh. The Reading Railroad crosses the property. Mrs. Unruh 
died not long since at her daughter's house on Church street. The house is 
an ante-revolutionary stone building, with a frame addition made in the early 
part of the century. There was a bake-oven and a cjuaint old-fashioned sf)ring- 



GERMANTOWN. 325 

house in front. Another Unriili farm had an entrance on Gorgas lane, and 
lay on the lower side of the lane. Another ancient ante-revolutionary stone 
house is on this place. It was occupied by English soldiery. I am indebted 
to William U. Butcher, long a worker in the press of Germantown, for the 
following notes: 

The Bockius family married into Nicholas Unruh's family, who lived at the 
last-named mansion. The Rev. Mosely H. Williams married a daughter of 
Charles Bockius. He is connected with the American Sunday School Union 
in Philadelphia. Jacob Bockius is a son of Charles, and in business with his 
father. Many cannon ball and shot were ploughed up on the first-named 
Unruh place, and years ago were piled up in heaps in the yard. But we must 
now introduce Mr. Butcher's narrative. 

THE UNRUH FAMILY. 

The Unruhs came from Germany, from what particular part of Fatherland 
is not clear. Sebastian and Nicholas, brothers, were the first of the family to 
settle in Germantown. They were sturdy, well-to-do farmers, and came here 
with strong religious convictions to cast their lot with its first settlers, in the 
hope of assisting, by industry and moral example, the work begun by Penn 
and Pastorius. Sebastian and Nicholas at once gave an earnest of their con- 
victions, their faith in the venture made, and the high purpose prompting 
their coming, by at once purchasing a large tract of the primitive soil on Wash- 
ington lane, north of Chew street, and afterward extending their domain until, 
with but few intervening spaces, it reached beyond the present city line north- 
ward, including Ivy Hill cemeterj^ 

The children of Sebastian were John, William, George, Abraham, Michael 
and Elizabeth, the last-named becoming the wife of the late William Herges- 
heimer, who lived on Gorgas lane, northeast of the railroad. 

The children of Nicholas were .John, Philip, Abraham, and others, doubt- 
less, whose names cannot now be recalled. 

The tract of land bounded by Washington lane. Township line and Chew 
street, was afterward occupied by John and William, the latter the husband 
of the late aged Esther Unruh, of Germantown. 

John (or John Nicholas) Unruh sold all his lands, 240 acres, and started 
west in 1816, taking all his children save Sebastian, who was killed by the 
discharge of a cannon, with him to Warren county, Ohio. 

The children of John Nicholas Unruh were Sebastian (above referred to), 
Elizabeth, John, Nicholas, Catharine, Sally, Joseph, Ellen and Poll}\ 

Joseph returned soon after going west with his father to Germantown, and 
settled on Allen's lane after becoming married. Rev. .John Nicholas Unruh, 
now engaged in the active ministry of the Lutheran Church at Wilmore, 
Cambria county. Pa., is a son of the aforesaid Joseph. 

The westward enterprise by John Nicholas was not a success, and his new 
home, near Lebanon, on the Big Miami river, was the scene of hard depriva- 



326 GERMANTOWN. 

tions and irreparable losses, his noble wife having died broken hearted in con- 
sequence thereof. 

An incident in connection with the family may be here related : On a 
militia training day after the mustering had been answered and the com- 
panies dismissed, two Unruh brothers, William and John, sons of Sebastian 
Unruh, and Sebastian, a son of John, having charge of the cannon, on their 
way home with the gun halted on Church street (then called Bone lane), at 
the rear of St. Michael's Lutheran churchyard, to fire a parting salute, one of 
them remarking in a jestingly way, it was said, that " now we will raise the 
dead." While ramming home the cartridge, the vent became so hot that 
the thumb of the holder was taken therefrom and a premature discharge of 
the cannon resulted. William's left arm was blown off, John lost his right 
arm and Sebastian was killed outright, his head having been blown off. 
William lived to rear a family of eight children, all of whom, save one, are 
still living within a few miles of each other in Germantown and vicinity. 

Rev. John N. Unruh, now of Wilmore, Cambria countj', Pa., is a son of 
Joseph, who was a son of John Nicholas Unruh, who was a son of Nicholas, one 
of the two original Unruh brothers. 

Francis Glass, residing at Knightstown, Henry county, Ind., is a son of 
Professor Francis Glass, formerly of Germantown, and teacher of astronomy 
and natural philosophy, who married Catharine, daughter of the aforesaid 
John Nicholas Unruh, who was a son of one of the original Unruh brotliers. 

William Unruh Butcher, residing in Germantown, is a son of John Hall 
Butcher, who married Harriet, eldest daughter of William Unruh, who was a 
son of Sebastian Unruh, one of the two original Unruh brothers settling in 
Germantown. William Unruh, of Edge Hill, and .John R. Unruh, of Fitz- 
watertown, Montgomery county, are the only sons of William Unruh above 
and grandsons of the original Sebastian Unruh. 

There is a tradition that Christopher Ludwick, described in one of these 
articles, was the original of Harvey Birch in Cooper's " Spy." AVhile he was 
a pretended deserter in a Hessian camp to influence the Germans in favor of 
the Colonies, Cooper says in his introduction to " The Spy," that the Congress- 
man who told Congress of the spy's noble work did not give his name, and 
Cooper did not know it, so that I cannot speak positively about it, though it 
may be true. One of Darley's beautiful pictures in Hurd and Houghton's 
edition of the book represents the faithful " spy " as refusing the money offered 
him by a grateful country, though Cooper had an impression that he received 
a remuneration afterward when the country was able to bestow it. 

As to Germantown printing, a " Book of Prayer," was printed by Peter 
Leibert in 1788, and Michael Billmeyer issued a " Book of Lutheran Hymns," 
in 1795. In 1790 he published a weekly paper. 

The family spoken of near the Chew House where a little girl was knitting 
stockings in war time, should have been called Schneider, instead of Snyder, 



GERMANTOWN. 327 

and their burial place was in St. Michael's Lutheran graveyard, and not 
Trinity Lutheran graveyard. 

Dr. James Rhoads, president of Bryn Mawr Female College, writes me that 
he has a cane made from the wood of Arents Klincker's house, which he 
bought of William Crout, who had a shop on Main street, between Chelten 
avenue and Armat street. When Watson says that William Penn was at the 
raising of this house, he may refer to the raising of the roof, as the walls were 
of brick or stone. A carpenter informed me that such an expression was 
allowable. 

The house which was arranged as a Dunkard meeting-house before the 
present one was built was the donation of Elder Peter Schilbert. The place 
of Hon. John Welsh is in the district popularly known as Germantown, 
though geographically it is in Roxborough. 

Mr. Morrell kindly furnishes the following interesting paper : 

HISTORY OF WATER WORKS FOR SUPPLYING THE BOROUGH OF 

GERMANTOWN IN THE COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA 

(now city) BUILT IN 1851 AND 1852. 

It was first contemplated to put in a hydraulic ram of eight inches to supply 
Tulpohocken street and vicinity, as Mr. J. C. Fallon was owner of the greater 
portion of the property on Tulpohocken street, and extending northwest to 
Washington lane from Adams street and Tulpohocken southeast to Harvey 
street, including Green and Wayne streets, and from Wayne southwest to Wissa- 
hickon avenue or Township line, northwest to Washington lane. 

The first plan of works was to build a small dam on Papermill run, a short 
distance southeast of Washington lane, and put in the eight-inch water ram, 
as mentioned previously, build a tank at a suitable elevation to give a supply 
of water to the property previously described. But upon searching for and find- 
ing a number of springs adjacent to the run in the valley between Washington 
lane and Walnut lane, after ascertaining the number of gallons by measure- 
ment the run flowed in twenty-four hours and estimating the amount of water 
to be collected by rainfall, it was determined to form a company to be called 
the Germantown Water Company. A company was then formed by making 
Mr. John C. Fallon president, and Christopher Fallon and others stockholders. 
In anticipation of obtaining a charter from the Legislature the works were 
commenced by digging a well at the southwestern terminus of Tulpohocken 
street, twenty-five feet in diameter, sixteen feet deep. A hole four inches in 
diameter and sixteen feet deep was drilled through a rock in the bottom of the 
well which furnished a considerable amount of water. The well was walled 
up by building an outer and an inner wall (dry) with stone, leaving a space 
between of four feet to be filled with coarse gravel or sand that the water 
might filter from the dam. The tops of the walls were furnished with coping 
which was procured from the quarry on opposite sides of the dam, drains were 



328 GERMANTOWN. 

made and walled up on either side mth stone and covered with flat stone, then 
the trench w'as filled in with broken stone and covered wdth coarse gravel or 
sand for the purpose of filtering the water from the dam and conveying it 
from these drains and from springs into the well, a dam breast was built at the 
northwest side of Walnut lane twenty-one feet deep at the breast of the dam 
and about eighty feet wide at that point ; that level was the level of the creek 
or run at Washington lane. An engine house was built at the southwest term- 
inus of Tulpohocken street, containing two horizontal high-pressure engines of 
three feet stroke, and of fifteen horse power, each working two six-inch hori- 
zontal pumps. Two cylinder boilers w^ere placed therein, thirty feet long by 
thirty inches in diameter, for the purpose of supplying steam for the engines. 
The upper part of the engine house was used as a dwelling for the engineer, 
but owing to the heat from the boilers it did not answer the purpose intended. 
The company built a separate dwelling for the engineer on Tulpohocken street. 
A ten-inch main was laid through the engine house on Tulpohocken street to 
Germantown avenue with a twelve-inch outlet two hundred and fifty feet 
northeast of Wayne street. On the southeast side of Tulpohocken street (for 
stand pipe) an eight-inch main was laid on Germantown avenue northwest to 
Washington lane, and a six-inch main southeast to Mill street, and a four-inch 
main southeast to Duy's lane, or Wister street, and three and four-inch main 
in other streets at that time (1852). A stand pipe was erected on the southeast 
side of Tulpohocken street, two hundred and fifty feet northeast of the north- 
east house line of Wayne street, one hundred and twenty feet high and five 
feet in diameter, holding 14,000 ale gallons, made of boiler iron in three 
sections of forty feet each together with a funnel-shaped top or cap of seven 
feet high, as a finish to the pipe ; the first section was seven-sixteenths inches 
tliick, the second three-eighths, and the third section five sixteenths, and the top 
three-sixteenths, in thickness. The top or cap was not intended to be water 
tight but only to make a finish, as 120' was intended to be the level of a con- 
templated reservoir to be built on Allen's lane northwest of Germantown 
avenue, and was built by the company in 1854 ; and a four-inch main laid up 
to Allen's lane and Germantown avenue, and a ten-inch main in Allen's lane 
into this reservoir, preparatory to supplying a large reservoir which was built 
in 1885 ; and a ten-inch main laid on Germantown avenue connecting with the 
ten-inch main on Allen's lane. The four-inch main is now used as a high 
service main, as also the ten-inch main that is high service or direct puuipage 
to Tulpohocken street ; below that point is supplied by gravity. 

The stand pipe was set up on a cast iron base two inches thick ; the base was 
bolted fast by eight two-inch bolts, drilled in the solid rock six feet deep, and 
filled around with melted lead, and caulked tight. The stand pipe had a 
corresponding plate which was bolted fast to the bed plate by sixteen one and 
one-half inch bolts, four in each corner. The pipe was put together on the 
ground and raised and set on the bed i.)late by means of a derrick and capstan, 
on August 13th, 1852. 



GERMAN'fOWN. 329 

The distribution was purchased from the Water Comjjanj^ by the city of 
Philadelphia in May, 1866. The use of works to supply Germantown distribu- 
tion, and rented by the city, was abandoned September 30th, 187'i; connections 
were removed from the stand pipe on June, 1873. The stand pipe was sold and 
taken down, by the parties purchasing it, on December 22nd, 1873, at 4 
o'clock P. M. 

November 15th, 1870, the twenty-inch main was laid by the city for supply- 
ing Germantown, being completed from .Roxborough to the Mount Airy 
reservoir, the water was passed over in three hours and thirty minutes, a dis- 
tance of about four miles. From that time to the present, 1888, the water has 
been supplied from Roxborough from the Schuylkill River above Flat Rock 
dam. The contractors for the original works and laying of mains were Messrs. 
Biskinline, Martin and Trotter, and Mr. D. E. Morrell, General Superintendent, 
all of Philadelphia. 

The water from Roxborough passes over the Wissahickon creek at an eleva- 
tion of one hundred and seven feet above the level of the creek, the jDipe forms 
the bridge supported by inrested arches of flat iron, and consists of four spans 
of one hundred and sixty-five feet each, erected in 1870. 

Mr. J. W. Jordan, of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, kindly gives 
the following correction of a statement quoted from another source in a recent 
article as to an early fire engine ; it is from a communication which he wrote 
for The Moravian. 

Being unable to obtain freight for Europe, Captain Jacobsen secured a cargo 
for the Islfind of Jamaica, and he sailed in December. The following spring 
she proceeded to England. During the year 1763, the Hope made the following 
voyages, January 31, arrived at New York, and sailed for London April 24. 
On the evening of October 21, she arrived from thence with Brother Frommelt, 
who was to be Economus of the Single Brethren in America ; Brother Tiersch, 
co-Director of the Paedagogium at Nazareth ; Sister Wernwig Laboress of the 
"Widows' Choir ; Susel von Gersdorf, Laboress of the Single Sisters at Bethle- 
hem ; and Sisters Justina Erd, M. Barbara Horn, Dorothea Lefier, Frederica 
Peltscher, Elizabeth Seidlitz and Agalome Steinman, wlio were to enter the 
Sisters' House at Bethlehem. The first fire engine for Bethlehem was brought 
over on this voyage. On November 23, the Hope sailed for London. 

Some remarks iiave been made in these notes with regard to the roads of 
Germantown. It is worthy of remark that about 1845, when Joshua R. John- 
son and Abraham Kulp were Commissioners of the borough of Germantown, 
the roads were well cared for, at an expense of seven hundred dollars per 
annum, from the railroad bridge at Wayne Station to the Countj^ line at 
Chestnut Hill. Samuel Harvey was then Burgess, and Samuel Johnson, 
Samuel Keyser and others were Councilmen. 

The Rev. Dr. Andrews, vice-Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, once 
resided in Germantown. In a note to a sermon of Rev. Samuel Magaw on the 



330 GERMANTOWN. 

death of Andrew Brown and family by the burning of their house, I find that 
a chamber in the house of Dr. Andrews ^was burned and his youngest son,. 
Edward, was so burned that he died afterward. A month after this the house 
was totally consumed. The sermon is in the Library of the Historical Society 
of Pennsylvania. 

JOHN WELSH. 

Spring Bank was the residence of the late Hon. John Welsh, our former 
Minister to England. The place derives its name from numerous springs upon 
it. It lies on the south side of Township line, now called Wissahickon avenue,, 
at the east corner of Knight's lane, now called Germantown lane, it being a 
continuation of Carpenter's lane to the Wissahickon. 

A private lunatiii^asjdum kept by the late Samuel Mason, a member of the 
Friends' Society was here for a time. The oldest part of the building, which 
is of stone, was a farm house owned by Mr. Wilson. 

Dr. Edward Lowber, John Welsh's father-in-law, bought this property about 
1840 and used it as a country seat, in connection with Mr. Welsh. Both of 
these gentlemen had boarded at the place before buying it. About 30 acres 
were in the farm, which reached to the Wissahickon, including Molly Wicker's 
Rock. Mr. Welsh donated several acres to the park to perfect the park line on 
the north side of the Wissahickon. He also placed tlie stone statue of William 
Penn, inscribed " Toleration," on this ground, on a height which is very observ- 
able to those passing along the Wissahickon drive. 

At the death of Dr. Edward Lowber, Mr. Welsh had purchased the i)roperty 
of his heirs. He had previously bought several acres of land to the east of 
this place and adjoining it, which is occupied by his son, Samuel Welsh, Jr.,. 
and is called " Kenilw^orth." He has enlarged a house which was upon the 
property, and spends the year there. Samuel Welsh, Jr., is a director of Ger- 
mantown Academy. 

Mr. John Welsh owned a good deal more land in this vicinity. His three- 
daughters, Mrs. .James B. Young, Mrs. Dr. George Strawbridge and Mrs. Thomas 
P. C. Stokes, live on a part of their father's estate, opposite Spring Bank,, 
in architectural cottages. 

Herbert Welsh resides near Wingohocking station, Germantown. He is the 
youngest son of John Welsh, and has been noted for his interest in the Indian 
question, and has done much good in lay preaching in St. Mark's Episcopal 
Church, in Frankford, w^here his uncle, the late William Welsh and family, 
have done such faithful work. 

The Hon. John Welsh died at his city residence, at the southeast corner of 
Eleventh and Spruce streets, on April 10th, 1886. He was a member of St. 
Peter's Episcopal Church, in the city of Philadelphia, for over fifty years. 

Mr. Welsh's daughter, Mrs. James Somers Smith, and family, now occupy 
Spring Bank. John Lowber Welsh lives at Chestnut Hill, William Lowber 



GERMANTOWN. 331 

Welsh resides abroad, and was recently United States Consul at Florence. The 
Hon. John Welsh was a man of national reputation, of whom Germantown 
may be proud as a Christian citizen. 

The Franklin Fire Company's stone plastered building (No. 5428 Main 
street) was sold by the Company to William McCallum about five years ago. 
The Company was originally independent, but is now merged into the paid 
Fire Department of the city, which built a new stone edifice on Maiii street, 
opposite Carpenter street. The old building is about to be torn down to open 
Franklin street, and the .store occupied by Jacob Peterman, on the Pullinger 
estate, next this building, must also be demolished for the same reason. The 
" Red Men " now use the old fire company's hall. The Franklin Fire Company 
may have caused this section to bear the name Franklinville, and so the Penn- 
sylvania phlosopher's honor is perpetuated. 

MEEHAN'S NURSERY. 

On Chew street, at the end of Church street, lies the Nursery of Thomas 
Meehan. Mr. Meehan began business opposite the Carpenter place, where 
Meehan avenue, bearing his name, has now been opened. He continued there 
from 1852 to 1870, when he sold to William C. Royal, who opened the street 
through the place, which is now built upon. Mr. Meehan bought a part of this 
property of George Carpenter, Sr. The Burt family owned it previously, and 
Mr. Carpenter bought it of Mrs. Burt. The stone mansion has been remodeled, 
and is occupied by Mr. Royal, on the southeastern corner of Meehan avenue 
and Main street. The upper part of Meehan avenue belonged to the Hortter 
estate. The stone house is now Johnson's grocery store. It has been altered 
somewhat. The stone stable and barn still stand. 

The present Commissioner of Highways, Joseph McDonald, began business 
in this house, having a drug store there. After about a year he started the 
express business, being one of the earliest, if not the earliest one, in German- 
town to undertake this employment. 

Mr. Meehan bought the property of the Hortter estate, which contained some 
of the largest pear trees in Germantown before Mr. Meehan bought it, and there 
was a great variety of fine kinds. Mr. Eberly, who was connected by marriage 
with the Hortter family, took much interest in the culture and grafting 
of these trees. Many of them were nine feet in circumference at the trunk. 
Mr. Charles Weiss, who lately died in Germantown, was also connected with 
the Hortter family by marriage. 

In 1870 Mr. Meehan bought the Hong farm, so called from a previous owner, 
of Archibald Mclntyre, for some time connected with the United States Mint. 
A portion of the property was bought of Jacob Hortter. The yellow plastered 
stone mansion on the hill side, occupied by Mr. Meehan, was built by Mr. 
Hortter for his own use, but he never occupied it. The brown ferruginous 



332 GERMANTOWN. 

tint appears to come from the oxydization of the iron contained in the sand ; 
as may be seen in other dashed houses in Germantown. 

A fine unfailing spring is on the Mclntyre tract. It is said to have been an 
Indian camjjing-place. A stream from it pours into the south fork of the 
Wingohocking, and is one of the important tributaries to that stream. 

Manj' Indian reUcs, as arrowheads and stone axes, have been dug up here, 
and revolutionary bullets and grape shot have also been found. Mr. Edward 
jMeehan, brother to James Meehan, has quite a collection of these curiosities. 

Mr. Thomas Meehan's business extends over the world, including shipments 
to New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere. He edits the Gardener's Monthly. 

The rolling hills clad with trees present a beautiful scene even in winter. 

A walk over the boards, wisely laid by the Reading Railroad Company on 
Gorgas lane, brings us to the quaint and pretty brick waiting room, and after 
the worthy flagman has given us some local information and mounted the 
ladder to place his signal light for the night we take our departing train. 
While we do not speed away from " Ancient Germantown " on the wings of 
the wind, Scott's lines are aiJjJropriate : 

" They'll have fleet steeds that follow, 
Quoth young Lochinvar." 

In marking the short distance between the Gorgas lane station and that of 
Mount Pleasant above it, the remark of a friend as to another railway is'appro- 
priate, that if the stations were a little nearer together one would do for the 
front part of a train, and another for the rear portion of the same train. Still 
these frequent stations are a sensible arrangement in building up a suburb, and 
have helped to modernize the old town. 

GERMANTOWN SOCIETIES. 

Mr. Edwin R. Stevens, Secretary of Mitchell Lodge, kindly furnishes the 
following sketch : 

MITCHELL LODGE, NO. 296, F. & A. M. 

It appeared, during the years 1853-55, to many members of Hiram Lodge, 
No. 81, that a change of their place of meeting was so desirable that they had 
the question of removal several times debated, but without auccess; finally, 
they determined to peacefully separate, and with the aid of some of the 
members from other lodges, form a new one. With this object in view several 
preliminary meetings were held in the office of Dr. William H. Squire, the 
result of which was the formation of Mitchell Lodge, No. 296, F. & A. M., 
which was named in honor of Past Grand John K. Mitchell, M. D., and was dedi- 
cated on December 22, 1855, in the Grand Lodge room. Masonic Hall, Chestnut 
street, below Eighth, by R. W. Grand Master James Hutchinson, and the 
following officers were installed : P. M. William H. Squire, from Hiram Lodge, 



GERMANTOWN. 333 

No. 81, W. M. ; John J. Griffith, from Phoenix Lodge, No. 230, S. W. ; Daniel 
K. Harper, from Hiram Lodge, No. 81, J. W. ; George Fling, from Hiram 
Lodge, No. 81, Treasurer; John A. Flynn, from Hiram Lodge, No. 81, Secretary. 

There were twentj'-two charter members, at that time the following familiar 
names in Germantown : Thomas M. Brooks, William K. Cox, Frederick Em- 
hardt, E. M. Firth, George Fling, John A. Flynn, John J. Griffith, Daniel R. 
Harper, Thomas B. Henderson, Samuel B. Henry, M. D., William Hopkin, 
Thomas Jones, Theodore A. Mehl, John Roberts, Thomas J. Roberts, William 
H. Squire, John H. Tingley, Clement Tingley and William Wright. Some of 
the charter members are still living. 

Tlie first meeting was held in Philomatbean Hall, December 27, 1855. For 
some time they met in Town Hall. They then fitted up a lodge room on 
Main street, below Price, over William Hopkins's property, where they met for 
a number of years, until in December, 1874, they took possession of the pres- 
ent quarters (Masonic Hall), Main, below Mill street, which w^as built at a 
cost of nearly $40,000. 

The Lodge now has upon its rolls 170 members, among them some of the 
most enterprising business men of the town. 

The affairs of the Lodge are in a very prosperous condition. 
. The present officers are William H. Brooks, W. M. ; Alexander Kinnier, 
S. W. ; Harlan Page, J. W. ; Thomas W.. Wright, Treasurer ; Edwin R. Stevens, 
Secretary. 

RELIANCE COUNCIL, No. 40, 0. U. A. M. 

Reliance Council, No. 40, Order of United American Mechanics, was in- 
stituted March 26, 1847. The names on the charter are : F. Augustus Ent, 
Charles Miller, William Dewees, Sylvester Handsberry, John Jackson, John R. 
Detwiler, John Holmes, Isaiah Shriver, William Deal, David Harmer, Jr., 
Joseph Shriver, John Shrivel', Lewis Emery, Peter Shriver, Solomon Loverige, 
William P. Conyers, David Harmer, Sr., Daniel D. George, Joseph G. Beine, 
Rittenhouse Fraley and Alexander Niblack. 

During the whole period of its existence this beneficial organization has 
never ceased paying benefits. Its stability is shown in the fact that some of 
its chief officials have been retained in office for more than twenty-five con- 
secutive years. 

In years gone by such men as Congressman Harmer, the late ex -Recorder 
of Deeds William Marshall Taylor, E. H. Butler the book publisher, and 
others of note were embraced in the membership of Reliance Council. During 
the war for the Union it took the lead in vacating ToAvn Hall to Government 
Hospital purposes and contributed toward the cause in both blood and treasure. 
It still retains a fair membership which includes citizens prominent in busi- 
ness, politics and the professions. 



334 GERMANTOWN. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS OF PENNSYLVANIA RELIEF FUND. 

BY WASHINGTON ROOP. 

Germantown Lodge, No. 38, K. of P. Relief Fund, meets every Tuesday- 
evening in Town Hall. It was organized December 1 , 1885, with sixteen 
members, on No. 2 assessment, the object thereof being to secure to the family 
of a deceased member the sum of |250 by paying the sum of 25 cents per 
month. Its management and funds are placed in the hands of faithful members 
of the Grand Lodge, and its laws provide for the inspection of all books and 
accounts whenever those whose special duty it is may deem it necessary or 
advisable. 

Assessments are called the first of each month closing with the end of the 
month, thus enabling the members to pay the assessment sometime during 
the month. Assessments must be paid each month in order to preserve a 
continuous claim on the benefits of the fund. There are 207 Lodges, a portion 
of whose members belong to the Relief Fund. There are 5783 members of 
the fund. The membership of Germantown Lodge, at assessment No. 22, 
was 93 members. There have been 64 deaths and the Grand Lodge has paid 
$16,000,000 in twenty-one months to its Lodges connected with the fund. 
Members paying the assessment for the first time are beneficial after the time 
within it was called and the receipt of the assessment by the Secretary of the 
Relief Fund. A member of any Lodge, K. P., of Pennsylvania, can become a 
member of said Fund, the requirements being normal good health. The 
officers of Germantown Lodge, No. 38, K. of P. Relief Fund, are : Jacob 
PuUinger, President, and Washington Roop, Secretary. 

GERMANTOWN COUNCIL, No. 21, SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF 

AMERICA, 

Meets on Friday evenings, at Axford's Hall, Rittenhouse street. It was in- 
stituted May 5, 1871. Worthy Grand President John D. Bayne, assisted by 
the Grand Officers, installed Worthy President Simeon McCowan, vice-Presi- 
dent Emma Edney ; Chaplain George Mitchell ; Treasurer Samuel Ritten- 
house ; Recording Secretary William H. Livezey ; Financial Secretary Charles 
H. Weiss ; I. S. Kate Dooley ; 0. S. Charles Markley ; S. G. James PuUinger. 
There were twenty-six initiated the same evening. Up to the present time 
over 600 have signed the constitution and become members of the Council ; 
a number of these have been dropped. Among those active in the Order, 
having died are Simeon McCowan, Samuel Rittenhouse, James PuUinger, 
Susan PuUinger, William Dewees, Martha Wolf, Lizzie Flue, John Fortin, 
and others. Its present membership is 235. They have invested over $4,000 
in bonds and building association stock, and have paid out a great sum for 
benefits to its members and other relief. Their object is : 1st, To establish a 
sick and funeral fund; 2d, To establish a fund for the relief of widows and 



GERMANTOWN. ■ 335 

•orphans of deceased members ; 3d, To assist each other in obtaining employ- 
ment, and to encourage each other in business. Its present officers are W. P. 
Sallie Harrington; Y. P. William Lester; R. S. Washington Roop; L. S. 
George Mitchell; Treasurer George Trumbore; Chaplain C. F. McCarthur.; 
•0. S. Joseph Morgan ; I. S. Charles West, S. G. E. Todd. 

PHILOMATHEAN LODGE OF ODD FELLOWS. 

Mr. Robert K. Duffield, the Secretary of this lodge, has placed in my hands 
•a sketch of its history, which I will condense. 

He states that Germantown has about twenty benevolent Orders, embracing 
forty separate societies. They work for a common purpose — the good of 
humanity. The Odd Fellows are one of the leading bodies. The lodge here 
described is No. 10. It celebrated its forty -ninth anniversary on March 16th, 
A. D. 1887. It is the oldest lodge in Germantown, and in the State, as those 
previously organized did not keep up a continuous existence, as the Philo- 
mathean did. 

Thomas Wildey, an Englishman, founded Odd Fellowship in Baltimore in 
1819. He had belonged to the Order in England, and had advanced in posi- 
tion in it, and had been instrumental in founding Morning Star Lodge in 
London. He was the first presiding officer of that Lodge. After emigrating 
to this coutitrj'- he met another Englishman named John Welch, who was an 
English Odd Fellow, and in 1819 thej'-, with John Duncan, John Cheatham 
and Richard Rusworth, organized Washington Lodge, No. 1, in Baltimore. 
These five working men had prejudices to meet and difficulties to face, but 
Wildey proA'^ed a good, hearty and loving leader, and English pluck buoyed 
him up in his undertaking. The work which he started is now known over 
the world. There are thousands of lodges in various lands, and hundreds of 
thousands of members. The revenue counts up to millions, and the disburse- 
ments aid the needy and the suffering. 

In 1821 the first lodge was started in Philadelphia,, and Philomathean 
Lodge was organized in 1828, on the 29th of December, in a building next 
the National Bank, now in the occupancy of E. B. Paramore. The bank then 
used the first floor. 

For several years prejudices against this secret order choked its growth, but 
in time it advanced in strength. In 1830 a procession in Germantown, in 
which several city lodges joined, made an impression. 

In 1835 Jacob Rosett, Sr., was building some houses on Manheim street, 
and made a third story room over two houses a lodge roon, where.the meet- 
ings were held for twelve years. In 1844 the Lodge bought its present 
property, on Wister street, and not long after built the building now used, at 
a cost of about five thousaijid dollars. The edifice was well constructed. The 
dedication of the hall took place in A. D. 1847, on the 15th of April. P. G. 
Thomas F. Betton, M. D., made the oration. He was a physician of high 



336 GERMANTOWN. 

standing. There was a parade of lodges. This was the first Lodge, which, 
without embarrassment, finished the undertaking of building a hall for its 
own property. 

This Lodge presented a block of white marble, properly inscribed, to the 
Washington Monument, at Washington. At the Philadelphia parade of 1869 
this Lodge was under the Marslials Casper Miller and Joseph Mansfield. 
This was the fifteenth anniversary of the Order in America. The ladies pre- 
sented the lodge with a beautiful white silk banner containing a picture of a 
female caring gently for two children, as an emblem of the benevolence of the' 
Order. This Lodge has done much to relieve sick members. 

Among the founders of Odd Fellowship in Germantown were strong men 
who practiced the virtues which their Order inculcated. This has been one of 
the most prosperous Lodges in the State, according to the statement of the late 
.James L. Ridgely, Secretary of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. In the Chicago 
fire this Lodge sent a good donation to the sufferers. 

In 1876, on the 20th day of September, the Order had its largest parade in 
Philadelphia. The Philomathean, Walker and Germantown Lodges, of Ger- 
mantown, paraded on Main street before going to the cit}'. 

The fiftieth anniversary of Philomatliean Lodge took place on February 
14th, A. D. 1879. Grand Secretary James B. Nicholson made the. address. 
Past Grands James Piatt, John Waterhouse and John Piatt were at this anni- 
versary. They were the three oldest members. John Piatt gave a history of 
the lodge. An address was made by P. G, Master George Fling. These 
gentlemen have all died. 

The fifty-ninth anniversary was an enjoyable social gathering, enlivened by 
music and recitations by ladies and gentlemen. The committee were John J. 
Waterhouse, Thomas T. North, William Homiller, Frank A. Wheeler, David 
H. Barrows, Edward Mengert, Edward Wilson, S. W. Kephart and John AV. 
Brooks. 

I append some further statements in the words of Mr. Duffield : 

The charter members were: Charles L. Rowand, Henry Birchall, John Hart, 
James Gilford, William Witworth, Robinson Lawton, William Botton, Eben- 
ezer Fors5^th. 

The first officers were : Noble Grand William Botton ; Vice Grand Robin- 
son Lawton ; Secretary Charles L. Rowand ; Assistant Secretary Charles 
Saxton ; Treasurer Ebenezer Forsyth. 

The present officers are : Noble Grand Harry D. Graig ; Vice Grand 
Thomas T. North; Secretary Robert K. Duffield; Assistant Secretary Edward 
Mengart > Treasurer Reuben Jagger. 

Space is too limited to enumerate all the prominent citizens of Germantown 
who have been members of this Lodge, but among the leading ones may be 
mentioned : Martin Landenburger, William Ent, Hillary Krickbaum, Elias 
Birchall, Aaron Jones, Henry Woltemate, William K. Cox, William Allen,. 
George Fling, Joseph L. Sykes, Thomas Brooks, Hon. William H. Brooks,, 
Captain John Waterhouse, F. William Bockius, John Piatt. 




NATIONAL BANK OF GERMANTOWN. 



GERMANTOWN. 337 

At the present time the past officers vote for the Grand Lodge officers on the 
last meeting night in March, in their Lodge rooms. Formerly the practice 
was to vote at the Grand Lodge headquarters in the city. The Past Grands 
of No. 10 would go to the city in an omnibus, and the saying was : " As goes 
Germantown, so goes the election." And it generally proved correct. 

WALKER LODGE, No. 306, I. 0. 0. F. 

In the early part of the year 1848, several Odd Fellows residing in Ger- 
mantown conceived the idea of forming a new Odd Fellows Lodge in German - 
town, there being at that time but one organization of like character here. 
Several meetings were held at private residences and after overcoming many 
obstacles, on the 20th of March, 1848, Casper Guyer, William T. Hunt, Peter 
K. Shriver, Gideon D. Harmer, Alfred Van Horn, George W. Emerick, Chas. 
Miller, Allen Gill and William Fisher applied to the Grand Lodge of Penn- 
sylvania for a charter, which was duly granted. Officers were elected and on 
the 24th of March, 1848, they were duly installed by the Grand Lodge Officers 
in the hall of Philomathean Lodge, on Wister street. The new Lodge was 
named Walker, in consideration of the valuable assistance rendered by George 
Walker, of Spring Lodge. Of the charter members, Casper Guyer, who was 
elected the first Noble Grand of the Lodge, is the only survivor. The meet-, 
ings were held in the Hall of Philomathean Lodge until 1856, when Town 
Hall was selected as the place for the meetings and continued for some six 
years ; then the Lodge removed to Laugstroth's (now Vernon) Hall, and met 
there until March, 1869, when it removed to its new and commodious Hall, 
on Main street, near Chelten avenue, which is considered one of the finest 
Odd Fellows' Halls in Pennsylvania. The Lodge has had continued success 
and prosperity ever since its organization. By careful management of its 
funds it has faithfully and promptly met every obligation. The present 
membership is 395. Since its organization it has expended for relief of sick 
members, funeral benefits, etc., about $60,000. Besides owning its Hall, which 
is entirely free from debt, the Lodge has an invested fund of about $10,000. 
The present officers are John Cave, N. G. ; Samuel A. Sibson, V. G. ; C. K. 
Channon, Secretary, and William Ployd, Treasurer. 

GERMANTOWN NATIONAL BANK. . 

The following account of the History of the Bank of Germantown was con- 
tributed to Scharf & Westcott's History of Philadelphia, by Charles W. Otto, 
the present vice-President : " The Bank of Germantown was chartered by the 
Legislature of the State in 1813, and went into operation July, 1814, with a 
paid-in capital of $55,000 ; Samuel Harvey, President, and John F. Watson 
(author of 'Watson's Annals of Philadelphia'), cashier. The first board of 
directors was composed of Samuel Harvey, Charles J. Wister, Richard Bayley, 



338 GERMANTOWN.' 

Peter Robeson, Michael Riter, George Bensell, John Johnson, Edward Russell, 
William Rodman, Robert Adams, Samuel Johnson, Conrad Carpenter, John 
Rogers. Capital, January, 1815, $91,000 ; July, 1815, $150,000 ; January, 1816, 
152,000 ; and in 1853, $200,000. 

" From the minutes of the Bank of July, 1814, it appears that ' the com- 
mittee for procuring and fitting out a banking house report that they have 
leased from Dr. George Bensell, for the term of six years and six months from 
the 15th of June last, at a rent of $300 per annum, payable quarterly, a three- 
storj^ stone house opposite the sixth milestone, in the village of Germantown, 
and that they have purchased from Mr. James Stokes, the iron doors, etc., 
belonging to the vault of the late Bank of the United States, in Germantown ; 
that they have emplo^'ed masons and carpenters to make the necessary altera- 
tions, which they expect will be completed by the 23d inst.' The location was 
changed from the above place (which is the second house above School lane 
on the Main street) to Main street, below Shoemaker lane, in 1825, and again 
in 1868 to Main street and School lane, next door to the original location. 

" Samuel Harvey died in 1848, and was succeeded by Charles Magarge as 
President. John F. Watson resigned the cashiership in 1848, and was suc- 
ceeded by Lloyd MifHin, who resigned in 1850, and was succeeded by Samuel 
Harvey, Jr. He resigned in 1860, and Charles W. Otto, the present cashier of 
the bank, was elected in his place. Mr. Magarge resigned in 1866, and 
William Wynne Wister, the i^resent President, was elected to fill the vacancy." 

To this must be added that Mr. Charles W. Otto, retiring from the cashier- 
ship, was elected vice-President, May 8th, A. D. 1885, and on June 23d of the 
same year, Canby S. Tyson was elected Cashier. 

THE SAVING FUND SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN AND ITS 

VICINITY. 

This Society is not a purelj' money-making or money-lending institution, 
but it partakes largely of a benevolent character. In was projected by men 
who were kindly dispose'd to the poor and the working classes, and whose 
chief object was to furnish facilities and inducements for the laying up of 
small sums, which, accumulating year by year, should aggregate a fund by 
which homes could be purchased, or otherwise drawn upon in special times 
of need. The society has steadily adhered to these principles during its long 
and prosperous career. The managers give their time and influence without 
pecuniary consideration, and are prohibited by the charter from borrowing 
any monfey or moneys directlj'- or indirectlj^, or in any way becoming indebted 
to the institution. 

The first meetings of organization were prompted by the late Samuel B. 
Morris, a member of the Society of Friends. 

On the 8th of May, 1854, the Society was forriially organized and business 
was commenced May 24, 1854, in a back room of the building at the corner of 




SAVING FUND. 



GERMANTOWN. 



339 



Main and Armat streets, and $629.17 was received from sixteen depositors. 
At the end of the first year the deposits amounted to $12,788.84, representing 
273 depositors. In 1855 the office was removed to the adjoining building, 
which it occupied until June, 1869, when temporary quarters were taken in 
one of the stores of "Walker Hall Building until October, 1869, when their new 
building, No. 4908 Main street, was occupied, having been erected upon the 
site of the Channon property, adjoining Langstroth's Hall, now Vernon Hall. 
In this building the Society's assets increased from 190,000 to 1,400,000. After 
making changes from time to time in the interior, in order to gain more room, 
it became a matter of neccessity to have a larger building, which want was 
met in the purchase of the property, corner of Main and School streets, from 
Mrs. Charles W. Schaeffer, and the present noble edifice was built and occu- 
pied April 1, 1883." 

The institution has had a steady growth, increasing in deposits and accounts 
every year, with the exception of 1860 and '61 and 1878. The following table 
will show the growth of the institution in periods of ten years : 

Date. 
Junel, 18.5fi . • 
January 1, 186fi 
'January ], 1S7G 
January ], 1886 
January 1, 1887 

The following have been the officers 

Presidents — Abraham Martin, elected May 8, 1854, resigned May, 1867 ; 
T. C. Henry, elected May, 1867. 

Vice-Presidents— T. C. Henry, elected May 8, 1854, resigned May, 1867; 
Franklin Shoemaker, elected May, 1867, deceased Sejatember, 1878 ; James M. 
Aertsen, elected September, 1878, resigned Februarj^, 1882 ; Isaac C. Jones, Jr., 
elected February, 1882. 

Secretary— E. P. Morris, elected May 8, 1854. 

Treasurers— William T. Ulmer, elected May 8, 1854, resigned July, 16, 1855 • 
Theo. B. Butcher, elected July 16, 1855, resigned June 1, 1869 ; George A.; 
Warder, elected June 1, 1869, deceased September 30, 1881 ; Charles A. Spiegel, 
elected October 1, 1881. 

_ Solicitors — Alexander Henry, elected May 8, 1854, deceased December, 1883 
J. Bayard Henrj^, elected February 2, 1884. 



Deposits. No. 


of Depositors 


828,325.20 


308 


11.5,638.20 


1146 


581,99fi.50 


3543 


1,745,365.36 


8696 


2,018,429.71 


9849 ■ 



MUTUAL FIRE . INSURANCE COMPANY. 



The Managers of this Company met at Germantown Hall, on the eleventh 
of MayJ A. D. 1843, and organized, electing Henry S. Mallery, President ; 
Wyndham H. Stokes, Secretarj^ ; and John Stallman, Treasurer. The incor- 
porators, besides the officers named, were Matthias Haas, John Purcell, Jacob 
Derr, George M. Smick, Michael Snyder, John Felton, John L. Williams, Ben- 
jamin Lehman, Henry K. Paul, and Charles Treichel. The last two declined 



340 GERMANTOWN. 

and Samuel Harvey and George Moyer were electee! to fill these vacancies. 
Business was transacted at the house of the Secretary for several years. In 
1843 John Stallman resigned the Treasurership, and Wyndham H. Stokes was 
elected to that position. On the fourth of September, 1843, the following 
Managers were elected : Henry S. Mallery, Benjamin Lehman, John Felton, 
Samuel Harvey, Theodore Ashmead, Alfred Creas, John Stallman, Joseph 
Handsberry, H. G. Jones, Matthias Haas, Samuel S. Ritchie, George W. Davis, 
Wyndham H. Stokes. In 1846, the Company rented a room of Benjamin 
Lehman. In 1847, Mr. Mallery gave up the Presidency, and Benjamin 
Lehman became his successor. In 1853, a lot was purchased at Germantown 
avenue and Armat street, being the north corner. An office was built here 
and used until the new building at 4801 Germantown avenue was entered in 
February, A. D. 1885. Benjamin Lehman died in 186?. Spencer Roberts 
was then chosen as President. In 1870, Wyndham H. Stokes, who founded 
the Company and had been Secretary and Treasurer from the time it was 
organized, died. Charles H. Stokes, his son, became the successor of his father. 
In 1871, he resigned, and Henry G. Stelwagon was chosen to succeed him. In 
1872, Edward B. Clark became Secretary and Treasurer. He resigned in 1874, . 
and William H. Emhardt was elected as his successor and has held the office 
by annual election to this lime. 

.In 1885, the Company bought a lot on the northeast corner of Germantown 
avenue and School street. Charles W. Otto, Charles Spencer, Charles Weiss, 
Jabez Gates and Spencer Roberts, as a committee, commended the plans of the 
architect, George T. Pearson, for a new building. The plan was accepted, and 
this committee, in 1884, gave the contract for the building to James Kinnier's 
Sons, who did the work satisfactorily. In 1885, Spencer Roberts, who had 
been President since 1867, died, and Jabez Gates received the election to that 
position, and is still in that post. The present managers are : Jabez Gates, 
John Stallman, Nicholas Rittenhouse, William Ashmead, M. D., Joseph 
Boucher, Charles W. Otto, Charles Spencer, Edward T. Tyson, Enoch Taylor, 
Horatio G. Jones, John Allen, Reuben V. Sallada, Frederic A. Hoyt, Henry 
B. Brumer. 

The building of the Company is an architectural one, and in its command- 
ing position on the corner of Main street and Market Square is an ornament 
to the town. The offices are light and airy and furnished with taste. 

In the second story the Library has its collection of books and carries on its 
good work. If an ancient Germantowner could view the change that has 
passed over this corner since the old house which served as a jail stood near it, 
he could hardly believe his eyes. 

The Soldiers and Sailors' monument is a credit to the town, and commem- 
orates the noble dead ; and now the Market Square Presbyterian Church has 
remodeled its building, which will further ornament the Square. The pretty 
parsonage will then be in keeping with its surroundings. It is well that in the 
erection of a new building the congregation has not been tempted to leave the 




MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE BUILDING, 
GERMANTOWN. 



GERMANTOWN. 341 

historic place, which has been rendered sacred by the worship of so many 
generations, and the coming race can do reverence to their Ggd and Saviour on 
the ver}' spot where their ancestors offered Him their prayers and praises. 

THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 

In 1874, Mrs. E. L. Linnard was the President and Mrs. Charles Megarge, 
Mrs. L. P. Smith, Mrs. George W. Carpenter, and Mrs. F. B. Reeves, vice- 
Presidents ; Mrs. Elizabeth P. Smith, Secretary, and Mrs. W. L. Corse, Treasurer. 
The third annual report (1873-4) states that a house had been bought at the 
northwest corner of Mill and Main streets and partly paid for. The object was 
to shelter young girls and give them a home, with moral and religious instruc- 
tion. There were evening classes of study and sewing for those who toiled in 
the mills through the day, which accomplished much good. 

THE GERMANTOWN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 

Under the Presidency of Miss Hannah Ann Zell, is a useful institution. Its 
pleasant reading room above the Insurance building and facing Main street 
and Market Square, is attractive. Mrs. Weygant is Secretary and Mrs. Frank 
Taylor, Treasurer. There is a Board of Directors. 

THE WORKINGMEN'S CLUB 

Gave its first annual report in 1878. Its formal opening was in Parker's Hall, 
May 10, 1877, though the Club House was opened a few days before that date. 
It has a library and reading room and gives entertainments, including lectures, 
readings and concerts. In the report a Coal Club and a Beneiicial Society are 
noted. In 1877 and 1878, G. W. Russell is marked as President, Samuel W. 
Wray, Treasurer, and R. H. Shoemaker, Secretary. In 1878, J. Topliff Johnson 
was vice- President. The report of 1883 notes the purchase of the pleasant 
Club House in West Chelten avenue, next to the Presbyterian Church, in a 
central location, and expresses a desire to build a hall. The Club had been 
located on the corner of School lane and Main street. A permanent Library 
Fund was started, and "Messrs. Charles Spencer and H. H. Houston were 
elected Trustees, Nov. 6, 1882." A fair had been held to aid the Fund. The 
library had 2119 volnmes. 

The Literary Society had Sheldon Potter, Esq., as its President. Herbert 
Welsh was vice-President and John F. Perot, Secretary. In appealing for 
co-operation in its literary work the wise couplet is aptly given ;. 

" Not what we give, but what we share; 
For the gift without the giver is bare." 

The faithful aid of the President of the Club, Charles H. Spencer, is men- 
tioned, and regret at his resignation by reason of his removal from Germantown. 
The Apollo Singing Society has done good work. 



342 GERMANTOWN. 

Mr. Charles W. Schwartz has held the office of vice-President of the Club, 
and Dr. R. H. Shoemaker and G. W. Wills that of Secretary. 

Jn 1884 the erection of the brick hall is reported. The first floor was for 
games and the second floor for a hall. 

A class in penmanship and arithmetic had been under the charge of Rev. 
Thompson P. Ege, and had afterward given its time to bookkeeping. A class 
in German was taught by John H. Westcott, Esq., and had succeedisd in its 
work. The board thanked the teachers. A semi-monthly journal had been 
started by the Literary Association. 

In 1885 the report shows the club to be prosperous. Drawing and writing 
were taught. H. F. Lennig superintended mechanical drawing and Stewart 
A. Jellett freehand drawing, and D. H. Forsyth writing. Henry S. Pancoast, 
Esq., was President of the Literary Society. 

The present officers of the club, are, George \V. Russell, President ; Charles 
W. Schwartz, vice-President; E. R. Sorber, Secretary; Alfred C. Watson,. 
Treasurer. 

This institution does much good. Would that every town had a like one. 

THE GERMANTOWN DISPENSARY. 

The report of 1868 gives James M. Aertsen as President ; Elliston P. Morris, 
Secretary, and Charles J. Wister, Jr., Treasurer, and T. S. Leavitt, M. D., as 
house physican. In addition, Drs. 0. J. Wister, J. Darrach and W. Darrach, 
and J. M. Leedom and A. C. Lambdin were out-door physicians. This was the 
fourth report. Many interesting cases of relief are spoken of in Dr. Leavitt's 
report. The rooms were then at No. 2, Town Hall. 

In 1879 the hospital building is marked in the report as in Shoemaker's 
lane near Chew street. This was the ninth report of the dispensary and hospital, 
and the fifteenth of the dispensary, which was now at the hospital building. 
Dr. James E. Rlioads was then President; Thomas Stewardson, Secretary, and 
S. Harvey Thomas, Treasurer. Drs. W. Darrach, Miller, Leavitt, Downs, 
Deaver, D.- Hayes Agnew, W. Hunt, J. Darrach and William R. Dunton were 
the physicians, and Mrs. Mary E. Booth the matron. The removal of the 
dispensary to the hospital gave it needed conveniences. 

The Donation Day, under the care of the lady visitors, had now brought 
about $600 in money, besides a large supply of useful articles. Kind words 
are given in the report to the late President, Dr. H. R. Wharton, whose term 
of service had ended and who had devoted himself to the good work and had 
been a very valuable officer.- The death of the useful and benevolent Franklin 
Shoemaker, a member of the Board, is properly noticed. He was the first 
member of the Board who died during service in that body. 
. The hospital has forty beds, and in addition to treating common cases has a 
special surgeon for diseases of the eye and ear. 



GERMANTOWN. 343 

The hospital was instituted for the aid of the sick poor of Germantown and 
Chestnut Hill. 

THE PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE 
MINDED CHILDREN 

Was incorporated April 7th, 1853, and opened at Germantown. It has done 
much good in physically and morally benefiting the unfortunate class it 
treats, and its fine stone buildings at Elwyn, near Media, where it was removed 
are noticeable from the railroad. Dr. Alfred L. Elwyn was the originator of this 
institution. [See Scharf & Westcott's History of Philadelphia, Vol. II, pp. 
1457-8 and p. 1462.] 

THE FRIENDS' HOME FOR CHILDREN, 

Organized A. D. 1881, and incorporated February, 1882, No. 3401 Germantown 
road. The good object is to protect orphans, and others who need care-takers, 
and find them homes. President, Jesse Cleaver; vice-President, Dr. Sarah T. 
Rogers ; Secretary, Edwin L. Peirce ; Corresponding Secretary, Mary F. L. 
Connard ; Treasurer, Thomas J. Whitney. 

THE ELLEN BUTLER MEMORIAL. 

This Home was founded in 1882 by Edgar H. Butler, Esq., as a memorial to 
his deceased wife. It is in charge of a Board of Directors, and informally 
connected with St. Luke's (Episcopal) Church, Germantown. Its object is to 
provide a home for gentlewomen who, from sickness, reduced circumstances or 
want of employment, shall be in need of such a home, either temporarily or 
permanently. 

THE GERMANTOWN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 

Was instituted to encourage the cultivation of flowers. At its exhibitions pre- 
miums are given, and the town shows that it is a flower-loving community. In 
1874, the late John Jay Smith was President and Charles H. Miller, Galloway 
C. Miller and Alfred C. Lambdin, vice-Presidents ; George C. Lambdin, Secre- 
tary ; T. L. Leavitt, M. D., Treasurer. 

Tlie following from the Germantown Telegraph of October 16, 1889, gives 
further information on this Society. 

At the regular monthly meeting of the Germantown Horticultural Society 
last Thursday evening. Prof Thomas Meehan delivered a lecture on the 
plants on exhibition. The following premiums were awarded : For the best 
specimen plant, Maranta macoyana, first premium to Henry Nelson, gardener 
to Mrs. Chandler ; second, Diifenbachia, to Michael Sammon, gardener to J. 



344 GERMANTOWN. 

M. Shoemaker. For the best collection of vegetables, twelve distinct varieties, 
first to William S. Beesley, gardener to Benjamin Homer. For the best 
collection of pears, three varieties of six each, to Henry Nelson. For the best 
hanging basket, to Robert Morrison, gardener to B. Ketchum. Special pre- 
miums were awarded to Robert Morrison for a Platycemum Alcicorne and an 
Acalphya ; to Mrs. Hopkins, for a Sedum ; special mention to William Beesley, 
for a collection of sixteen vegetables ; to Meehan & Son for a Callicarpa pur- 
purea and a Berberis thunbergia, and to Mr. Benjamin Shoemaker for a fruited 
branch of Gink-go. 

Professor Meehan, in referring to the yew family of trees, spoke of the great 
English yew tree now standing at Hancock street and Pomona Terrace, on the 
Amos. R. Little property. He said that he understood that the ground on 
which it stood had been sold for building purposes, and that there was a chance 
that it might be destroyed to make room for improvements. He thought that 
it was unfortunate that such a noble tree with the historical record which it 
had must be cut down. He suggested that a subscription should be raised for 
the purchase of and the transplanting of it to some public grounds. The 
following extract from the Public Ledger of July 25th contains a history of 
this remarkable tree, and shows the propriety of the Professor's suggestions : 
" At one corner of the Little mansion is a venerable specimen of the English 
yew, tlie divided trunks of which measure 14 feet 10 inches in girth in the 
aggregate, while the branches cover a radius of 129 feet. Its height is over 20 
feet. The tree many years ago was struck by lightning, when the trunk was 
divided and a portion of the tree was killed. New growth, however, soon filled 
up the spaces, and the tree to-day is a marvel of symmetry and beauty. It is 
claimed that this tree is the largest, oldest and handsomest of the kind in this 
country, and quite as large as some of the most famous ones in the church- 
yards of England, some of which are over two thousand years old. The latter 
were planted for the purpose of making bows, it being considered the best wood 
for that purpose, and the churchyards were selected as the place of growth, 
because it was thought that there they were less liable to be cut down. Just 
who planted this local specimen in its present location is unknown, although 
it is claimed, with some show of reaso;a, that it was done through Colonel 
Forrest, a former owner of the place, in 1758, and that it was an aged tree 
when it was planted there. One hundred and fifty years is considered a low 
estimate of its age." 

The old officers were renominated for another year. The next meeting of 
the Society will be the Annual Chrysanthemum Exhibition, which will be 
held on November 6th, 7th and 8th, in St. Vincent's Hall. 

The following extracts are from the Germantown Telegraph of November 
6th, A. D. 1889 : 

The Germantown Flower Mission during the summer sent 1321 bouquets 
to the City Mission ; 322 to the Germantown Hospital, also a quantity of fruit 



GERMANTOWN. 345 

and loose flowers; thirty-eight bunches of flowers to the Jewish Hospital. 
One hundred and forty-flve visits were made to sick people, who in all cases 
received ice-cream, fruit and vegetables. 

The report of the Germantown Relief Society for the quarter ending Sep- 
tember 30th, just issued, shows : 184 applications for assistance, seven new 
applicants, forty-six old ones, two cases not needing relief, forty-nine grants 
allowed to the amount of $152 and 118 visits paid. 

The fifth annual donation day of the Pennsylvania Society for the Preven- 
tion of Cruelty to Animals, on Monday, resulted in the receipt of $433. 

The new building for the Germantown Electric Light Company, now being 
erected, will contain power sufficient for 20,000 incandescent lights and 120 
arc lights of the Edison sj'^stem. 

GERMANTOWN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. 

The first concert of the season given by the Germantown Orchestral Society 
took place last evening in Association Hall, Germantown, under the direction 
of Mr. Otto L. Kehrwieder. The audience was quite large, and a creditable 
performance was given. The soloists were Mrs. Bell Dixon, soprano ; Mr. 
William Geiger, violinist; Mr. Harry J. Dahl, cornetist. Zither quartette: 
Messrs. C. and H. Faltermayer, E. Oswald and 0. Koch. John Dyson was the 
accompanist. The second concert will be given next February. 

Philadelphia Inquirer, November 22d, 1889. 

In closing "Ancient Germantown" the reflection arises that every house 
and individual is an interesting study ; and if one hereafter writes of " Modern 
Germantown," he may find much more of interest. 



MOUNT AIRY. 



Mount Airy. 



Mount Airy is an indefinite name, and has, perhaps, in olden time extended 
as far down into Germantown as Washington lane, as that was the northern 
border of the old town ; but it seems proper to refer it to the tract which 
begins at Carpenter street and Gorgas lane, which are on opposite sides of 
Germantown road, and ends at Mermaid lane, and I shall so use it. This 
was the limit of the new borough. Mermaid lane is the upper boundary of 
Mount Airy. The southern boundary of " Ancient Germantown " was a little 
below Duy's lane; the northern boundary was the road to Abington, now 
Washington streec. This covered about IJ miles, for the length of the old 
town, which was divided into 52 pieces of land of about equal size. [Town- 
send Ward's " Germantown Road," Pa. Mag. of Hist, No. 4, Vol. V, p. 373.] 

The name is said to come from the airy position of the district, and the 
ground rises as we leave Carpenter street. It is believed to have been given 
by Chief Justice Allen to his country-seat, and to have been widened out to 
embrace the district. The Judge bought his place about A. D. 1750. Scull's 
first map at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library is dated 1759, and 
the name Mount Airy is marked on it, as well as on a subsequent map of his, 
dated 1775. The date shows that the Judge might have been the father of 
the name. It is natural to allow some fancy in tlie use of the term " Mount." 

A little child of my acquaintance once defined a mountain as " a velly high 
hill indeed," but Mount Airy hardly answers that description, though it is a 
high and airy position. Camp and Militia Hill, at White Marsh, and the 
higher hills beyond them, and the Welsh mountains in Berks county, and the 
noble Allegheny and other ranges show that Pennsylvania is blessed with an 
abundance of hills ; it is believed that hills are an aid to freedom, and Mount 
Airy saw a conflict which may be named with the struggles of Swiss heroes 
among the Alps. 

Across the road from the depot at Gorgas lane, on the Reading R. R., lies a 
mansion and farm belonging to the Unruh family, who were old settlers in 
this region, and two of whose places have been described by Mr. Butcher in 
these sketches. 

Gorgas lane derives its name from another old family of note. 

Watson says : " All the settlers in Cresheim built on the Cresheim road 
before settling a house on the Germantown road through Cresheim. There 
is an old map, made in 1700, in which all their residences and barns at that 
time are marked." Annals Vol. II, p. 18. The old term Cresheim is still 

(349) 



350 MOUNT AIRY. 

somewhat used for the section along Cresheim road, which runs from Allen's 
lane to Wissahickon avenue. Gorgas lane, near Main street, has an old stone 
on the south side with the initials of the names of the original land owners 
marked on it. Cresheim lay between Roxborough and Bristol townships. In 
old sales of land in this tract, the division was made in long strips, as in Ger- 
mantown, as can be seen in a plot in E. V. Lansdale's oflSice, at 210 South 
Fourth street, which was kindly submitted to my inspection. I will add some 
notes taken from it as to early owners. Cornelius Tyson had seventy-five 
acres running from Bristol township line to Cresheim road. Reice Potts had 
fifty acres below him. Henry Sellen's strip from Bristol to Roxborough town- 
ship came next, containing one hundred acres. Then follows William Strepers 
with fifty acres, Johannes Bleikers with one hundred acres, reaching the Lime- 
kiln road as a lower boundary. Crossing that road Gerrard Rittinghousen held 
fifty acres, and Derrick Sellen fifty acres. 

Judge Allen bought a portion of his land of Conrad Widner, and it is sup- 
posed that he constructed the mansion. Aiidrew Allen, Jr., received from 
Judge Allen, his grandfather, by a will made 1769, the property. He sold to 
Lewis Anastosius Tarascon, a Frenchman. Blondin Constant, a well-known 
French refugee, afterwards acquired it. Aug. Lewis Rumford afterward 
owned it and conveyed it to William E. Rogers, brother-in-law of Gen. Meigs, 
the celebrated engineer. His widow, Harriette P., sold it to Jas. Gowen in 1846. 

The first building on the left in going beyond Carpenter street on Germantown 
avenue is an old inn called " The Farmers and Drovers' Hotel, at the corner 
of Main and Carpenter streets, now kept by Mr. Scull. It is a narrow four- 
story building, jutting high into the air, with its dormer-windowed attic, 
making a fifth story. It is rare to see such a high, loft}'- building in the coun- 
tr}^ On the upper side a one-storj^ addition with a high chimney gives a 
quaint appearance to the house. About sixty years ago Andrew Trellinger 
owned the place and kept the hotel. He also possessed considerable property 
in Mount Airy. There was once a private school in the upper wing. Daniel 
Heilig was the teacher. Mr. John Bisliop, living in Meehan avenue, was a 
pupil. He has given me valuable information as to this region. Charles Neil 
occupied the hotel for several years. Matthias Craig and Henry Barnett were 
two who succeeded him, though not directly, after his departure. It belongs 
to George W. Carpenter's estate. Mr. Carpenter raised the building. It used 
to be styled the " Shot Factory " by boys, from its height. The original build- 
ing runs back in its history to the Revolutiom. It was once the election place 
for both the upper and lower wards of German township, which then included 
Chestnut Hill. This has long been a favorite stopping place with farmers. 

William Leibert, son of Peter Leibert, erected the house opposite Gorgas 
lane, and lived there until his death. The house is now the residence of his 
great-grandson, William Leibert. This is one of the old families of German- 
town. 



MOUNT AIEY. 351 

Anthony Johnson lived in an old-fashioned double stone house opposite the 
tavern. He used to wear breeches and buckles. He died over fifty years 
ago. He owned much property in this vicinitj\ Samuel Welsh is building 
new cottages on a part of his old farm in Carpeliter street. Johnson had, per- 
haps, over 100 acres of land. He was one of the old settlers. 

Opi^osite the Lutheran Orphanage is a field which belonged to Anthony 
Thomas. It was called "The Ten-Acre Field," and ran from Leibert's board- 
yard to Rush's. It was for years used as a place of review for the volunteer 
militia soldiers of Germantown and vicinity, about forty years ago, which was 
a delight to the boys. Tents were placed at hand where eatables were sold. 
Colonel Roumfort, President of Mount Airy College, used to conduct the 
review, and inspected the regiments every spring. Sometimes a sham battle 
enlivened the scene. Captain Huston, of the Lafayette Guards, and Lieuten- 
ant Frederick Fleming were among the offi.cers. The Germantown Blues were 
present, and a Holmesburg Horse Company. The various companies foi'med 
a battalion. 

Those, passing the Lutheran Orphanage and the Home for the Aged have 
noticed these fine buildings conveniently connected by piazzas. The Home is 
of red brick, diversified with black stripes. The Superintendent, Mr. C. F. 
Kuhnle, kindly gives the following sketch : 

LUTHERAN HOME. 

Philadelphia has been justly noted for its many charitable and benevolent 
institutions. Among these the " Orphans' Home and Asylum for the Aged 
and Infirm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Germantown " holds a 
conspicuous place. 

The design of founding a Home in Germantown dates back to 1852, but 
nothing definite was done until 1858, and on the 18th of March, 1859, the first 
child was received into a small house on Main street, which, however, soon 
proved too small and inconvenient. In October of the same j^ear the property 
on Main street above Carpenter, where the institution now stands, was pur- 
chased. It has a front on Main street of 138 feet, and extends back 1075 feet 
to Cresheim road. The design from the first was to provide a home for desti- 
tute orphan children, without regard to creed or country. The first charter is 
dated June 4, 1860, and was subsequently amended by an Act of Legislature, 
and the institution exempted from taxation. In 1862 a building was put up 
for a school and dormitory for the boys. 

When so many children were made orphans during the late war, this insti- 
tution was among the first to open its doors for these soldiers' orphans, and 
98 were admitted up to the time when the State provided homes for them. 
In 1865 the corner stone was laid for a large and suitable building to accom- 
modate at least 80 children, which was finished in 1866 at a cost of §30,000. 
Although at times under clouds, the institution has prospered and grown 



352 MOUNT AIRY. 

more in favor with the Lutheran Church and community at large. In 1879 
a building 140 feet long and 40 feet wide, with wings at the ends of 60 feet, 
was erected for the accommodation of the old and infirm, and was occupied 
May 1, 1880, after its cost of $20,000 had been raised by voluntary contribu- 
tions, so that no debt remained. The grounds and buildings have been much 
improved during late years. Fronting on Main street is about an acre of 
well-kept lawn, dotted with flower-beds and planted with fruit trees. In the 
rear is a kitchen garden of about 2 acres, where all the vegetables needed for 
the institution are raised, with the exception of potatoes. The garden, with 
the help of one hired man and the assistance of the older boys under the man- 
agement of the superintendent, is one of the best-cultivated gardens in Ger- 
mantown. 

The asylum for the old people is of brick with basement, two stories and 
mansard roof and is heated throughout by steam. It contains a large dining- 
room, chapel, parlor, two sitting-rooms, and thirty-five bed-rooms. Each 
inmate has a room to himself A special feature are two porches, each one 
hundred feet long and twelve wide, sheltered for east, west, and no.rth, and 
facing the lawn. 

The orphanage is a stone building sixty feet square with a basement, three 
stories and attic. The basement contains the children's dining-room, play- 
room, kitchen, laundry and bath-room. The latter is so arranged that the 
children can learn to swim. The first floor is occupied by the main school- 
room, superintendent's dining-room and office, and the parlor ; the next has 
the kindergarten, superintendent's and assistant's bed-room, and the sewing- 
room, and on the third are the children's dormitories. The building has 
three separate stairways from the basement to the dormitories, and in addition 
is provided with a regular fire escape on the outside. The play ground is 
large where the children enjoy themselves when they are not at work or in 
the schoolroom. Of the five hundred and forty-six children received into the 
Home from the beginning many are now engaged in the various occupations 
of life. Three of the boys are now pursuing their studies to prepare for the 
ministry. There are now in the Home fifty-five boys and twenty-five girls. 
In the Asylum thirty-one have a home, some of whom have nearly reached 
four score and ten. Thus from a small beginning this institution has grown 
to a considerable magnitude, and is in a prosperous condition and deserves 
the support of all kind-hearted and generous people. 

The Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, in his History of the Levering Family, p. 
186, mentions a MS. volume of the poetry of the hermit Kelpius, translated 
into English verse by Dr. Christopher Witt, who was Kelpius's friend, which 
was owned by John Leibert, of Mt Airy. A portrait of Kelpius, painted by 
Dr. Witt, is prefixed to the volume. The Latin Journal of Kelpius is in the 
possession of C. J. Wister. Kelpius died at the early age of thirty-five, in 



MOUNT AIRY. 353 

A. D. 1708, according to one of his followers, John Sehlee (called Selig), in 
Latin Seeligius. 

It should be stated that the jjroperty on which the Lutheran Orphans' 
Home and Asj'lum for the Aged stands, formerly belonged to Jacob Derr. 

Next above the Lutheran Home, on the same side of the way, is the resi- 
dence of Mr. Thomas Garrett, who is a manufacturing chemist. Just above 
this house lies the pleasant abode of his mother, Mrs. Garrett, with its ample 
lawn and hedge. 

THE STEAMBOAT HOUSE. 

It is a coincidence that as there used to be in the Great Valley, in Chester 
county, a public house called The Ship, and another near it styled The Steam- 
boat, so Germantown boasts a Ship House and Mt. Airy a Steamboat House. 
It sounded strange in former years to hear the conductor on the Pennsylvania 
Railroad call out the station " Steamboat," in a hilly district, at a distance 
from any navigable stream, but modern civilization has changed the old name 
of the Chester county depot to Glen Loch. The Mount Airy Steamboat House 
is on the right in leaving Germantown, between Mount Pleasant avenue and 
Sedgwick street. It is owned by Mrs. Bostwick, who resides in it. The Gre- 
cian pillared front of the mansion faces toward Germantown. There is a fine 
lawn in front of it. Mrs. Bostwick has altered the quaint roof into a Mansard 
one. There is a baj' window at the side of the porch and a back building 
with a piazza. The construction is peculiar. Mrs. Admiral Breese, a sister of 
Mrs. Bostwick, has a modern gray stone residence on the same lawn, just south 
of the Steamboat House. A fine natural terrace is in front. There is quite 
an elevation of the lawn above the street. The Steamboat House was formerly 
owned by Mr. Erasmus James Pierce. He had been a sea captain. The top of 
the house formerly had a flat roof, framed into the appearance of the hurricane 
deck of a steamer. This part, at least, was built by Mr. Pierce. He was a 
manufacturer of umbrellas in the city and lost his health, and sought this 
pleasant country home. He tried to establish the silk business here, and 
many mulberry trees still remain on the old farm as relics of those days. He 
had large cocooneries and raised many silk worms, but did not find the busi- 
ne.ss profitable. He lost tens of thousands of dollars in this speculation. He 
employed a great many men in his different undertakings. His son, the Rev. 
E. J. Pierce, a Presbyterian clergyman in Farmingdale, New Jersey, writes me 
that in his own boyhood there was no church in the neighborhood, and that 
when he returned from Dartmouth College he " turned his father's old cocoon- 
eries into Sabbath schools, and now I rejoice in the thought that on the old 
farm there is an active, live Presbyterian church." The reference is to the 
parish of which Rev. Mr. White is the energetic pastor. The city residence 
of Mr. Pierce was in Sansom street, between Seventh and Eighth streets, on 
the south side, near the^house of the artist, John Sartain. One of Mr. Pierce's 
daughters married Mr. Drown and another married Captain Landis. 



354 MOUNT AIRY. 

Mr. Pierce was above medium height and of a cheerful and sociable dispo- 
sition. He was quick in moveraent. He owned quite a tract of land, which 
is now cut up, on wliich Mr. Tourison is erecting a double cottage of modern 
design. 

The Steamboat House became the property of a gentleman named Miller) 
who owned it about thirty j^ears ago. At that time the flower beds, were 
elevated and walled around with brick or stone, so that the ladj"^ who had the 
oversight of them was not required to stoop while performing her pleasant 
duties. 

Mr. Pierce probably introduced the umbrella business into Philadelphia, 
having perhaps noticed their general use in China. The umbrella had long 
been carried in London, but was not common in this country, though proba- 
bly many were imported. The business was profitable, as there was little 
competition. 

No. 5635, east side, may be marked by a quaint old iron foot scraper, which 
naturally drew the attention of a friend of mind in passing, and led to a query 
about a house which could boast so antique an appendage. The worthj' and 
useful scraper has held its position for over sixty years, and has cleaned the 
shoes made by two generations of shoemakers. The shoes, and many of their 
wearers have departed. " Still stands the scraper primeval," if Longfellow will 
pardon the adaptation. May it scrape coming generations of feet for many a 
day. The house sjioken of is the residence of the Derr family. They are car- 
riage makers. In 1810, Abraham Deavs and Martha Cadwallader, executors 
of Abraham Deavs, the elder, deeded the place to Samuel Deavs. It passed 
into the hands of Benjamin Lehman and wife in 1813. They sold to Thomas 
Arthur in 1814. Thomas Arthur sold to .John Smith, and in 1824, John 
Smith conA^eyed the property to Jacob Derr. His son, Jacob F. Derr, inher- 
ited it, and it now belongs to his children. Carriagemaking has been 
carried on by this family for over sixty years in the present shop, and in the 
building used as A. Haas's Gentlemen's Furnishing Store, which was formerly 
a shop. 

GRACE CHURCH. 

On the 18th of May, 1858, several gentlemen met at Christ Church Rectory 
to take steps toward forming a parish in Mt. Airy. Mr. W. E. Stone was 
made Secretary, and the following persons were nominated as the first Vestry- 
men : C. S. Carstairs, Henry Berry, Thomas H. Powers, A. S. Robinson, S. L. 
Crentzborg, W. E. Stone, P. E. Hamm, Clem Tingley, Jr., Eli Burrhouse and 
Beekman Potter. " The Church of the Messiah " was first selected as the name, 
but finally changed to "Grace." A charter was procured, steps were taken to 
erect a chapel, and by the aid of the ladies through a fair held in the Town 
Hall of Germantown, and subscriptions amounting to $900, they were able to 
accomplish that object. Rev. Thomas Yocum, who was assisting at Christ 
Church, supplied services on Sunday afternoons. By November, 1864, it was 




GRACE CHURCH, MOUNT AIRY, ON GOWEN AVENUE. 



MOUNT AIRY. 355 

necessary to enlarge the building, which was done at a cost of $2255.47. At 
this time Eev. Mr. Yocuni resigned, and the Rev. J. Saunders Reed was elected 
rector, at a salary of seven hundred dollars, Christ Church furnishing three 
hundred of the amount. Rev. Mr. Reed having declined, Rev. J. R. Moore 
was elected and declined, then the Rev. Dr. Shiras was elected. Dr. Shiras 
apparently declined and so did Rev. John E. Ames. Finally the Rev. 
Edward Hale, in May, 1866, accepted the rectorship, salary one thousand dol- 
lars, but remained only two months. August 12, 1866, Rev. R. A. Edwards 
was elected rector. February 6, 1874, the resignation of Mr. Edwards was 
accepted, he having been called to Holy Trinity Memorial Chapel. Rev. S. 
C. Hill was elected to fill the vacancy on February 24, 1874, but declined. 
March 14, 1874, Rev. E. A. Reddles was elected rector and resigned Februarj^, 
1875. Rev. E. H. Kettle was elected, but declined. April 15, 1875, the Rev. 
S. C. Hill was elected and accepted, and took charge the first Sunday in June, 
1875. 

The parish needs a larger church building, and desires another location, 
and is to erect a new church on a lot on the Gowen estate, at the southwest 
corner of Gowen avenue and Main street. The building will be built of stone 
from the vicinity and will be 100x78 feet in size. It will have a nave, aisles 
and baptisterj', also a tower 90 feet high. The vestibule will be under the 
tower. Til e interior will be diversified by colored bricks. Steam heat will be 
used. Charles M. Burns is the architect. The cost will be about $18,000. The 
old church will be utilized for the Sunday school, until a year after the new 
church is completed, when it is expected that a parish building will be built 
in the new location. The lot is 90 by 120. The rector is to be congratulated 
on this advancement in parish life. 

The Rev. S. C. Hill has contributed the above sketch of the history of this 
parish. 

The following account of the consecration of the new Grace Church is from 
the " Standard of the Cross and the Church," of November 29, A. D. 1889. 
Rev. Dr. Atkins, and Rev. Mr. Edwards were former rectors of the church. 

CONSECRATION OF THE NEW GRACE CHURCH, MT. AIRY. 

On Wednesday, November 13th, Bishop Whitaker consecrated the new, sub- 
stantial and symmetrical edifice of Grace Church at Gowen and Ardleigh 
avenues, Mt. Airy. Rev. S. C. Hill is rector of the parish. More than sixty 
clergymen in surplices attended the service, those to whom parts of the service 
were assigned being the Rev. Drs. Atkins, Upjohn, Harris, Perr}^, Watson, 
Murphy and Falkner and Rev. R. A. Edwards. The sermon was by Rt. Rev. 
Dr. Whitehead, Bishop of Pittsburg. After thanking his seminary classmate, 
the rector, for the invitation to preach, and congratulating him and the Bishop 
of the Diocese upon the erection of this and so many noble churches which 
are rising in this region, he announced the text, Esther 5:2: "And it was so. 



356 MOUNT AIRY. 

when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained 
favor in his sight ; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was 
in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter." 
Picturing the timid approach of the queen, forfeiting thereby, under custom, 
her life, but being graciously received, the Right Reverend preacher used the 
event as illustrative of the Doctrine of God's Grace, a subject suggested by the 
name of the church. Our thought of God determines what kind of worship 
we offer Him. St. Peter declares him to be the God of all grace, and we recog- 
nize it as the language of experience and penitence. The Church has never 
narrowed the message of God's grace. She ever stands bidding men reach out 
the hand to touch the Incarnation. Observation shows that men will naturally 
believe anything rather than the abundance of God's grace. The bearing of 
the message fully has its effect on the worship of the Church. Each church 
building becomes a witness of grace. The sacraments assume the chief place 
in worship, and their celebration becomes even gorgeous. Those who minimize 
Christian doctrine are most afraid of what they call externals of worship. The 
Church is not merely the messenger, but the very body of Christ, herself filled 
with His grace. In conclusion, the Bishop invoked the richest blessings upon 
rector and congregation in the use of this church, saying: "The Lord hear 
thee in the daj^ of trouble ; the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee, send 
thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion : remember all 
thy offerings and accept thy sacrifice ; grant thee thy heart's desire and fulfill 
all thy mind." After the service the clergy were invited to luncheon at the 
residence of Mr. Franklin B. Gowen. 

MT. AIRY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Rev. Mr. White sends me the following history, which he prepared for 
The Chronicle. Mr. Wm. H. Scott kindly loans the plate which represents the 
church in this article. 

During the latter part of the year 1879, there was inaugurated a movement 
in the interests of Presbyterianism in Mount Airy. 

Sabbath preaching was instituted by Rev. William Travis, and a Sabbath 
School organized in the church edifice built by the United Brethren denomi- 
nation, on Mount Airy avenue. 

The Presbyterian churches of Germantown were early aroused to the impor- 
tance of the locality as a mission station, and appointed the following committee 
to have charge of it : .John T. Roberts of the Market Square Church, George 
F. Wiggan of the Second Church, F. B. Reeves of the Wakefield Church, and 
John Johnson, James Lorimer, and E. G. James of the mission. The first 
meeting of the above committee was held January 27th, 1880, at which time it 
was resolved to lease for one year the building temporarily occupied by the 
mission on Mount A.].vj avenue. 

February 26th, 1880, Rev. John Rutherford was employed by the committee, 
as stated supply for the mission. 



MOUNT AIRY. 357 

On the 5tli of October, 1880, the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, in 
answer to a petition presented by Elder Wiggan, appointed Revs. Drs. Knox, 
Owen, Cowan, McFetridge, and Elders Henry, Van Horn and Wiggan, a com- 
mittee to visit Mount Airy, and, if the way be clear, to organize a Presbyterian 
church in that place. 

This was accordingly done, November 9th, 1880. Twenty-four persons 
united in the organization — nineteen by letter from other churches, and five 
on confession of faith. 

Rev. John Rutherford resigned as stated supply, October 4th, 1880. For the 
next seven months, the church had no regular supply. 

At the fall meeting (1882) of the Presbytery the propriety of abandoning the 
field and dissolving the church was considered. Finally Rev. J. W. Kirk, 
Elders .John T. Roberts, Francis B. Reeves and William H. Scott Avere appointed 
a committee to look after the church and complete the organization. 

Up to December 24th, 1880, at which time Mr. John Lunn was ordained 
Ruling Elder, there was no regular session of the church, and hence it was 
but imperfectl}^ organized. A few persons were admitted to membership, in 
connection with Elders from churches of Germantown, commissioned by 
Presbytery. 

April 4th, 1883, Rev. W. P. White was elected pastor of the church. 

He removed to Mount Airy, May 19th, and took charge of the church, 
preaching his first sermon Maj^ 20th, 1883. He was not installed pastor, how- 
ever, until December 4th. 

BUILDING THE CHAPEL. 

The Church entered upon its most vigorous career when, having obtained a 
pastor, it began the construction of a house of worship for itself. 

The lot on the corner of Germantown avenue and Mount Pleasant street, 
being one of the most beautiful for location in the Twenty-second Ward, was 
purchased in February, 1883. Plans for a chapel on the rear of the lot Avere 
designed by George T. Pearson, architect. 

The corner-stone being ready to be laid, religious exercises were held on the 
site of the chapel. Sabbath afternoon. May 27. The pastor-elect presided. 
Addresses were made by Rev. J. W. Bain, pastor of the Alexander Church, 
Philadelphia, and General Louis Wagner. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. E. 
Wright, of Market Square Church, Germantown. 

The chapel was dedicated September 80th, 1883. 

At the morning service, the sermon was preached bj' Rev. A. A. Hodge, D. 
D., LL. D., of Princeton Theological Seminary. 

In the afternoon, addresses were made by Revs. W. J. Chichester, J. W. 
Teal, and N. S. McFetridge, D. D., of Germantown, and Rev. Alfred Nevin, D. 
D., of Philadelphia. The prayer of dedication was offered bj' Rev. J. E. 
Wright, pastor of Market Square Church. 



358 MOUNT AIEY. 

In the evening a sermon was preached by Rev. S. A. Mutchmore, D. D., of 
Philadelphia. 

At the afternoon service, it was announced that still there was needed $784.34, 
in order to dedicate the chapel free of debt. 

In a very few moments a note was read by Dr. McFetridge, signed " Incog- 
nito," in which the writer agreed to assume the entire amount. 

There was remaining the cost of the lot, amounting to $3250, and the 
indications of Providence were that effort should be made to raise it. Before 
the evening service was held, a warm friend and faithful helper of the Mount 
Airy Church agreed to contribute $1000 of the entire amount. Two others 
agreed to assume $500 each. The balance was guaranteed, during the evening, 
by friends present. 

The Installation of Rev. W. P. White, as pastor of the Mount Airy Presby- 
terian Church, took place December 4th, 1883. Owing to the illness of Rev. 
W. J. Chichester, some change was necessary in the programme. As carried 
out. Rev. .J. W. Teal presided, proposed the constitutional questions, and made 
the installing prayer. Rev. S. C. Logan, D. D., of Scranton, preached the 
sermon; Rev. J. E. AVright, of Germantown, charged the pastor, and Rev. J. 
H. M. Knox, D. D.', president of Lafayette College, charged the people. 

The additional facts which follow show that Mr. White has had a successful 
ministry. The church is a pretty edifice of wood. 

The following is the report of the Presbytery for the second year (1885) — 
Total number of communicants, 56 ; added on examination, 5 ; added by letter, 
4 ; adults baptised, 1 ; contributed to Home Missions, $71 ; Foreign Missions, 
$46 ; Education, $24 ; Relief Fund, $26 ; Publication, |5 ; Freedmen, $15 ; 
Presbyterial Assessment and Mileage Fund, $7.64; Congregational, $5,650. 

During the second year of Mr. White's ministry (1885) he built and paid for 
a parsonage and the following is what tlie Board of Trustees said of it. 

Early in last 3'ear it was resolved to undertake the building of a parsonage 
and, with the exception of providing the lot, the whole burden of the under- 
taking was thrown upon the Pastor of the congregation, and your Board 
cannot speak too highly of his energy and zeal. We have only been able in 
this report to present a partial statement of the Parsonage Fund as the accounts 
are still open, but we can say that the cost of the building independent of the 
lot is over $4000, and that this amount, with the exception of about $100, has 
already been secured by your faithful Pastor. 

MOUNT PLEASANT AVENUE M. E. CHURCH, MOUNT AIRY. 

On the third of April, A. D. 1887, this parish celebrated its tenth anniversary, 
and Robert Thomas, Esq., read a history, and the Rev. G. M. Broadhead has 
kindly loaned me the manuscript. In 1854, Rev. Newton Heston was in 
charge of the Methodist Church in Germantown, and had a class and Sunday 
School at Mount Pleasant, which met in the upper story of a building belong- 



MOUNT AIRY. 359 

ing to Erasmus James Pierce, Esq., next to the property of Jacob Derr. Sunday 
afternoon services, and a week day evening service were held, generally by some 
local preacher or exhorter from Germantown, and the congregations were 
good. 

In 1856 the church in Germantown was divided, and Mr. Heston assumed 
charge of the new congregation, called St. Stephen's. In 1857 he left German- 
town, the Mt. Airy mission grew weaker, and when the building used by it was 
sold, the work was given up. 

In 1874 Rev. Joseph Mason became pastor of the Haines Street Church, 
Germantown, and a number of his parishioners lived about Mt. Airy, belong- 
ing to the class of Mr. Neilson which had its place of meeting at the leader's 
house, in Franklin street. In 1875 this class met on the second floor of the 
Odd Fellows' Hall corner of Germantown and Mt. Airj^ avenues. A Sunday 
School was begun here, being a branch, or mission school of the Haines street 
parisb. Charles M. Dungan was the superintendent, and Christian Smith 
became class leader. Sunday services were resumed by local preachers and 
exhorters. The hall was used for about two years. 

In the summer of 1876 a committee of seven of the Christian brethren and 
sisters was appointed to endeavor to secure the lot on the west corner of Mt. 
Pleasant avenue and Bryan street, and to raise a thousand dollars for a chapel. 
The committee were : Gavin Neilson, Edward Savage, Henry Smith, Enos F. 
Hesser, Mrs. Charles M. Dungan, Mrs. Christian Smith and Mrs. Hesser. They 
added to their number Thomas B. Cope, R. S. Woddropp, William McCai'thur, 
John T. Walker. The committee were successful, and Gavin Neilson took the 
title for the lot in his name, with a ground rent. A chapel was built and 
dedicated to the worship of Almighty God on Sunday, March 25th, 1877, when 
the bell called the waiting people together to the Lord's House. The 
building committee were John Sowden, William Benner, Gavin Neilson, Charles 
M. Dungan, and Robert Thomas. The Reverend Messrs. Joseph. Mason. J. B. 
McCullough, and Andrew Longacre, of the Philadelphia Conference, and Rev. 
Dr. E. H. Stokes, of the New Jersey Conference, assisted in the dedication 
services. The next Sunday, April 1st, Rev. A. F. Dotterer, junior pastor of the 
Haines Street Church, took charge of the mission. A debt which was incurred 
in building was afterward paid. Edward Savage, in manhood, and Enos T. 
Hesser, in youth, who had been active in church work, were called to their 
heavenly I'eward before the chapel was finished. In 1880 the congregation 
bought an additional piece of land on Mt. Pleasant avenue, and in 1881 the 
ground rent which had stood against the church pro2:)erty, was extinguished, 
making the parish free of debt. In 1885 the congregation was incorporated 
with the following trustees : Thomas B. Cope, Robert Thomas, Robert T. 
Laughlin, Richard W. P. Goff, John T. Walker, Gavin Neilson, Charles K. 
Lippincott, Charles C. Crawford, and David Cliffe. 

The list of pastors is as follows : Rev. Messrs. A. F. Dotterer, F. H. Moore, 
H. R. Robinson, and G. M. Broadhead, who is now in charge. The present 



360 MOUNT AIRY. 

trustees are Thomas B. Cope, John T. Walker, Charles T. Crawford, Francis 
^'ogel, George H. Wilson, Gavin Neilson, Robert T. Laughlin, Robert Thomas, 
and George L. Taggart, Robert Tho;nas, Esq., is Secretary. 

The Philadelphia Methodist, of April 9th, 18S7, gives a pleasant account of the 
tenth anniversary of the parish. " The music and flowers and the large con- 
gregations made the fine spring day joyous. The pastor and John T. Walker, 
superintendent of the Sunday School, supervised the arrangement. Rev. 
Messrs. J. F. Meredith, A. F. Dotterer, J. B. iMcCullough, Rev. Mr. White, of the 
Presbyterian Church of Mt. Airy, and Rev.' J. H. Hargis, of Germantown, and 
Hargis Dotterer made addresses at the three services which were held during 
the day." This account makes the establishment of the first regular service in 
1851, by Rev. A. Longacre, before Rev. Newton Heston organized a class. 

Squire Thomas informs me that in the early days of Methodism in German- 
town, Bishop Asbury visited the place and preached in it. Mr. Thomas has 
made a study of Methodist local history, and is well informed concerning it. 
Services were sometimes held bv the Methodists in the Germantown Academv. 



OLD MOUNT PLEASANT INN. 

Tlie lower dejaot of Mount Airy and the surrounding section bears the name 
Mount Pleasant, I presume, from the pleasant position, and this comfortable 
and neat boarding house which has refreshed Philadelphians in the summer 
for years has adojjted the name. The jiosition is high, and the grounds com- 
modious, and adorned with trees. In 1824 Edward Bonsall had a drug store 
in this building. John Miller enlarged the house and kept a store in it. He 
was an uncle of Franklin B. Gowen, Esq. He and his wife died at this place. 
For years the Gorgas family kept a boarding house here. The house is rough- 
cast and has a neat and pleasant appearance. 

The second* house above Mount Pleasant avenue on the east side of German- 
town avenue is an old stone building with this inscription in front, 17 W. 
Hottenstein 95. It was built by William Hottenstein, in 1795. He was the 
grandfather of Miss Mary Hottenstein, residing on Rex avenue, Chestnut Hill. 
He was a saddler, and his shoj) was next door below, and was moved to a point 
a little above Dr. Gilbert's by Martin Painter, who used it as a dwelling. It 
was afterward enlarged. William's son Isaac owned an old stone house which 
faced Germantown avenue, and the side was on Pleasant street. Pleasant 
street was cut through what was Isaac Hottenstein's pi'oi^erty, but at that time it 
belonged to Erasmus J. Pierce, the umbrella manufacturer. Isaac Hottenstein 
moved to Chestnut Hill in 1831. The old house has been altered and improved. 
Isaac Hottenstein kept a store in the house. He invented a machine to make 
carter's lashes, and made quantities of them. His only brother Jacob was 
drowned in the Wissahickon. In crossing the stream, on a moonlight night 
in 1808, he made a mistake, and fell into the creek. It was New Year's night 
and several were with him. His burial place was at St. Michael's. The boys 



MOUNT AIRY. 361 

were born in Reading. William Hottenstein went west to secure western land, 
and died at Columbus, Ohio, on his homeward road. 

Next above the Hottenstein house, with its ancient date, is a nice stone house 
which belonged to Mr. Schugard. It is a double house which he rented to 
tenants. The dwelling next above this house was Mr. Schugard's own resi- 
dence. Both houses are standing. The son of the proprietor, named Henry, 
was a saddler. He lived and died at this abode. Mr. E. .1. Pierce bought these 
houses. Afterward the larger house was purchased by Mr. Robert Thomas and 
the smaller one by Mi'. Samuel Graver who lives in it. 

Below Mount Airy College, on the left, was the Keyser family, who owned a 
frame and brick house but the road to Ivy Hill is on their site. Next below 
Keyser s was Adam Breish's old tavern, which is demolished. Thomas's 
Lumber Yard was a part of Mr. Hoffman's property. Two sons were brush- 
makers and had a shop there. One named George went out west, another 
named Jacob moved to Manayunk and kept a hotel and died there. An old 
pupil, whom I have met went to school on Allenls lane, on the upper side at 
the top of the hill. The present school house is on the opposite side. Mr. 
McDonald was the teacher about 69 years ago. Mrs. McDonald taught the 
girls to sew. An Englishman named Mr. Thomas was afterward the teacher 
and afterward .Jacob Bockius held the position. The present school house is 
the third one. This pupil lived on the lower corner of Main street and Gowen 
avenue, on the left side. Garret Rittenhouse used to be seen by the younger 
generation sitting on his porch, next to Mr. Jos. Miller's place. 

Adam Bickert had a double stone house on the left near the store. Mr. 
Hoffman's house joined the wall of Mr. Bickert's mansion. 

The old house on the east side of Germantown avenue occupied by Josej^h 
Casper Weiss has been in his possession over sixty years. It formerly belonged 
to the Nice family. A part of it has been removed. The old stone house on 
the hillside below the Mt. Airy Boarding House, belonged to a familj^ named 
Lightcap. It is now owned by Franklin B. Gowen, and occupied by the 
Hamilton family. The ancient pretty stone dwelling opposite the end of 
Gowen avenue, occupied b}^ Mr. Church, belonged to the Wolf estate. It is the 
oldest house on the Wolf property. The house is a part of the nursery 
property, belonging to Miller & Yates, which gives beauty to the Germantown 
road, and carries the seeds of beauty to many distant places. 

Mt. Airy Nurseries were founded by Miller & Yates in 1870. The ivy- 
covered lower end of Mr. Church's residence is used as-'a bouquet room. Two 
aged sisters, named the Misses Oram, dwelt in this section of the house for a 
great many years. One died here and the other no longer resides in this 
neighborhood. In the carriage road, within the inclosure, is a well which is 
used in irrigating the i:)lants. The drivers from up-country used to stop to 
quench their thirst with this delicious water. A house belonging to Mr. Wolf 
once stood at this point, and this was its well. Mr. Wolf, for many years kept 



362 MOUNT AIRY. 

the grocery store on the upper corner of Gowen avenue and Germantown 
avenue. 

The Mt. Airy Boarding House was formerly a hotel called the "Golden 
Swan." It is an old structure well known to Philadelphians. It is a roomy 
building with a piazza. 

The Golden Swan Hotel, on what was called the Germantown, Chestnut 
Hill and Reading turnijike, was kept by John Maison, who was a Frenchman, 
and a relative of General Maison, of France. He was one of those Huguenots 
driven out of France in the days of the Du Fonts. The building now in its 
cheerful yellow color justifies the ancient name of the Golden Swan. The 
boarding house is kept by Miss. Errickson, and belongs to the estate of James 
Gowen, the father of Franklin B. Gowen, Esq. 

No. 4754, opposite the proposed Lutheran Theological Seminary, is the 
dwelling place of the Misses Ketz. It was built by Jacob Ketz, who owned 
the property on Allen's lane. Jacob Ketz bought land of Judge Allen. 

On the southwest corner of Allen's lane and Germantown road is tlie Gorgas 
House, with its stores, marked 5728 and 5730. The house was built by Benja- 
min Gorgas, Sr., the great-grandfather of the present occupants. Benjamin 
Gorgas, Jr., lived here with his son Charles, who had bought the property and 
started a grocery store, which is still carried on, but not by the family. He 
was a noted and highly respected business man in the neighborhood. At his 
death the place fell into the hands of his daughter. Miss Julia Gorgas. Mr.. 
Charles Gorgas acted as a useful citizen in improving Allen's lane by con- 
structing several houses on it. He was a man of spirit and enterprise in 
business. He was appointed Postmaster of Mt. Airy by President Lincoln 
in 1861, but died in the same year, and Miss Julia Gorgas became Postmistress 
afterward, and held the office until it ceased to exist on the coming of the 
letter carriers. Gorgas lane takes its name from Joseph Gorgas, one of the 
older relatives of this familj^ who held property on that lane. Samuel Gorgas, 
a son of Charles, kept the Mt. Pleasant Inn, a boarding house, at the corner of 
Mt. Pleasant avenue and Main street. The Gorgas family are ancient settlers- 
in this neighborhood and are of German stock. 

Rev. Peter Keyser was in the lumber business in Philadelphia with one of 
the Gorgas family. The firm was Keyser & Gorgas. Mr. Keyser used to walk 
to the city and back from his residence, now occupied by Ell wood Johnson, on 
Main street, Germantown, near Washington lane. 

An old mill in Roxborough, on the Wissahickon creek, was owned by John 
Gorgas, who lived near Allen's lane. Boone & Carman's factory is on the site. 
John Gorgas was a tanner and ran the old mill. 

Bechtel's Paper Mills were two large stone buildings on the south side of 
Cresheim creek, about a quarter of a mile above its mouth. The lower mill 
years ago was used as a woolen spinning mill by Joseph Hill and afterward as 
a cotton spinning mill by his son, Milton Hill. It has since been unoccupied. 
It is owned by H. H. Houston. The upper mill, about sixty-five years ago,. 



MOUNT AIRY. • 363 

was owned by Joseph Carr, who made cotton laps. He rented it afterward to 
Thomas Randall & Son for spinning woolen yarn. It is now unoccupied 
and owned by Mr. Houston. Above the last mill, on the north side, is a mill, 
which, about seventy years ago, was owned by David Hinkle and used as a 
grist mill. His son Jesse continued this business. J. and E. France bought 
it and used it as a shoddy mill. They sold to David Hey who used it for the 
same purpose. A fire destroyed it during his ownership and it has been in 
ruins ever since. Mr. Hey still owns the property. Still further up, on the 
south side, is a mill, which, forty years since, was owned by J. and E. France, 
and used as a carpet mill. They sold it to David Hey, who utilized it as a 
shoddy mill and still uses it for the same purpose. These are all the mills on 
Cresheim creek and are all between the turnpike bridge and the Wissahickon. 

I am indebted to Mr. David Hinkle, of Germantown, for this information : 

The lower Bechtel's Paper Mill stood on the Cresheim creek where it 
empties into the Wissahickon, on the south bank, near Allen's lane railroad 
station. There was another Bechtel's Paper Mill on the same side of the 
Cresheim creek about a mile above. The family were papei'makers. Peter 
Bechtel, grandfather of William Bechtel, bought both of these mills about the 
year 1800. They both fell into the hands of his son Peter, and were worked as 
paper mills up to 1833. Peter Bechtel, Sr., came from Germany. 

Mr. Hill tore down the old lower mill and erected a new one. He purchased 
Patterson's flour mill, just above, for his work. Colonal Kester was the next 
owner. There was another flour mill above the upper mill, owned by 
Mr. Jesse Hinkle. Still above this was a comb factory, afterward used by 
John and Irwin France as a carpet factory. These proprietors are both dead. 

Mr. Bechtel, who has a stationery store in the Post Office building in Ger- 
mantown, is of the family named. His mother, whose maiden name was 
Horter, is living at an advanced age. He has kindly given me information 
as to this matter. 

MOUNT AIRY COLLEGE. 

[Written for the Germantown Telegraph.] 

" Ah, happy liills ! ah, pleasing shade ! 

Ah, fields beloved in vain ! 
Where once my careless childhood stray'd, 
A stranger yet to pain ! 

I feel the gales that from ye blow, 
A momentary bliss bestow, 
As waving fresh their gladsome wing 
My weary soul they seem to sooth, 
And redolent of joy and youth, 
To breathe a second spring." 
— Gray's Ode "On a Distant Prospect of Eton College:' 

I am indebted to the courtesy of Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., for the prepara- 
tion of the accompanying valuable engraving of Mount Airy College, once the 



364 ' MOUNT AIEY. 

residence of Judge Allen. The square building of stone, surmounted bj' tlie 
flag, was the Judge's country abode before the Revolution. The long build- 
ings left of it Tvere added when tlie property became a college under Mr. 
Constant, a Frenchman. The building farther to the left was the home of 
Sebastian Miller, the great-grandfather of Franklin B. Gowen. It was torn down 
by his father, James Gowen, about 1845. The .sketch from which the above 
picture was made was taken in 1828, when the institution was under A. L. Roum- 
fort and called " The American Classical and Military Lyceum." This was de- 
molished by James Gowen in 1848 or 1849, who bought the place in 1846 
from the estate of William Rogers, who had made it his country residence for 
several years. 

"In 1750 "William Allen, afterward.'; Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, bought 
of Matthias Milues and wife, a lot of ground containing twelve acres, to which 
he added two years afterward by purchase from William Rittinghausen and 
wife, twenty-one acres more. The situation was on the east side of the main 
road from Germantown, above the village, and in Cresheim. Ui)on that por- 
tion of the tract bought from Rittinghausen, a fine large stone house was built 
by Allen, which was somewhat remarkable in contra-distinction to the country 
houses of the time, from the fact that it came out to the extreme limit of the 
main road and even went beyond it, having a porch upon the road in the 
manner of an arcade, through which the foot passengers might walk at any 
time. To this seat Allen gave the name which is now given to the neighbor- 
hood — ' Mount Airy.' The property remained in the possession of the family 
until long after the Revolution." — Thompson Westcott's History of Phila- 
delphia, chapter 217. 

Chief Justice Allen lived in King street, now called Water street, "near 
Beck's wharf, south of High or Market .street. He had been a great merchant 
and took a deep interest in the two expeditions fitted out by Philadelphians, 
which sailed from this city in 17oo and 1754 to discover the Northwest 
Passage. The style of his establishment maj' be imagined from his famous 
coach with its four black horses, and his English coachman, who was an ac- 
complished whip. In this stately manner would the Chief Justice be driven 
to his fine country seat at Mount Airy, where all that remains of so much 
grandeur is his name in ' Allen's lane.' " — " North Second Street and Its Asso- 
ciations," by Townsend Ward. Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. IV, 
pp. 170-1. " 

In Charles P. Keith's " Provincial Counsellors of Pennsylvania," pp. 140- 
145, we find an account of Judge Allen. He married Margaret Hamilton, 
daughter of Andrew Hamilton, the Councillor, in Christ Church. William 
Allen was boru August 5th, 1704, and baptized August 17th in the First 
Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. He appears to have studied law in 
London. Judge Huston speaks of him as a distinguished barrister in London. 
He owned much laud in Pennsylvania. He was a Common Councilman and 
a member of Assembly. He united with Andrew Hamilton in making the 



MOUNT AIRY. 365 

State House Square, advancing money for the purpose. In 1735 he was 
elected Mayor, and at the end of his term the new Hall of Assembly witnessed 
a fine collation given by him. The Pennsylvania Gazette said : " It was the 
most grand and the most elegent entertainment that has been made in these 
parts of America." 

Allen was a partner of Joseph Turner, the Councillor. He was " perhaps 
the richest man in Pemisylvania, notwithstanding his charities." He often 
served as Judge of the Orphans' Court and Common Pleas, and was Recorder 
of the city. He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Province. 
For near a quarter of a century he was a dignified, learned and impartial 
Judge. He lived on King (Water) street, next his wharf and stores, having a 
stable and coach-house on the east side of Front, street. About 1750 he took 
up his country seat of forty-seven acres at Mount Airy. Allentown, Pa., is on 
land once owned by him. It was first called Northampton. In 1767 he gave 
the large tract he owned in that section to his sou James. Judge Allen was a 
man of public spirit, and gaA^e influence, time and money to advance the 
colony. 

He contributed largely to the Pennsylvania Hospital and to the College, of 
which he was one of the first trustees. He gave his salary as Chief Justice to 
charities, according to E. F. de Lancey's statement. In a visit to England, 
in 1763, his strong influence checked a bill in Parliament concerning taxation 
of America relating to Stamp Duty. His three eldest sons were members of 
the Philosophical Society. He was a friend of Benjamin West. While siding 
with the Colonies at fir.st, Allen desired to maintain the union with the 
mother country. He freed his slaves. While it has been stated that Judge 
Allen died in London, it is probable, as Keith states, that he died in Phila- 
delphia or Mount Airy. He died September 6, A. D. 1780. (Tilghman 's Estate, 
5 Wharton, 44.) On September 10, Jasper Yeates writes from Lancaster to 
Colonel Burd, speaking of a letter received from Mr. Parr, in Philadelphia, 
noticing Mr. Allen's death. On September 16 his will and codicil were proven 
in Philadelphia. These dates being so near each other show that he could 
not have died in London. 

In Watson's Annals, Vol. II, p. 33, is this notice : " The first carriage of the 
coach kind they ever saw or heard of belonged to -Judge Allen, who had his 
country seat at the present Mount Airy College. It was of the phaeton or 
Landau kind, having a seat in front for children, and was drawn by four 
black horses. He was, of course, a very opulent man, a grandee in his 
generation. Such phaetons cost £400. The country seats then were few." 
A note adds : " There were three or four earlier carriages in Philadelphia, 
viz. : Norris, Logan and Shippen's." It may be added that Governor Keith's 
carriage, when he lived at Graeme Park, near Hatborough, was a wonder to 
the country people. 

Imagine the eager faces at doors and windows when Judge Allen's grand 
coach stirred the ancient country people, as the " Tantivy," now enlivens the 
road between New York and Philadelphia. 



366 MOUNT AIRY. 

A portrait of Chief Justice William Allen, who was on the bench in 1754, 
was painted by Benjamin West. Brown describes it in the " Forum," Vol. I, 
pp. 248-9, and Scharf & Westcott's History of Philadelphia, Vol. II, p. 1031, 
quotes from his description : " He had a curled wig and ruffled sleeves, but is 
otherwise dressed as plainly as possible. The face is round, with rather 
straight features." 

Horace Wemyss Smith's Life of Provost William Smith refers to a meeting 
called on August 10th, 1754, by the Governor, " of the trustees of the Societj'^ 
for Propagating Christian Knowledge among the Germans settled in Penn- 
sylvania." The meeting was held " at the house of William Allen, Esq., in 
Mount Airy." James Hamilton, Richard Peters, Benjamin Franklin and 
William Smith were present. 

James Allen, who was, I think, a son of Judge Allen, built Trout Hall, in 
Allentown, and resided in it. My informant ttiinks he also had a house in 
Chestnut street, Philadelphia, near Fourth street. His daughter, Mrs. Green- 
leaf, lived for years in the old mansion in Allentown. Her daughter, Mrs. 
Dale, also lived there. See Diary of James Allen, Pennsylvania Magazine of 
History, Vol. IX, No. II, A. D. 1885. Andrew Allen, First Lieutenant of the 
First City Troops of Philadelphia, was a brother of James Allen. Allentown 
is said to have been named after James Allen. 

Mt. Airy College was located on James Go wen's place. He was the father of 
Franklin B. Gowen, the late President of the Reading Railroad. General 
Beauregard and General George G. Mead and his brother were pupils. The 
college building was of stone. It stood flush wdth the street and the second 
story balcony projected across the full width of the sidewalk, forming an 
arcade. The property belonged to the Allen family, from whom Allen's lane 
is named. Mr. Allen, who was an Englishman, erected the building as a 
private house. Mr. Constant, a Frenchman, was the head of the college at first. 
Afterward Augustus L. Roumfort was associated with him, and it was made 
a military school by him. He was a Representative in the Pennsjdvania 
Legislature, being a Democrat. He was afterward Mayor of Harrigburg and 
Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Sujserintendent of Brides- 
burg Arsenal. He died at Harrisburg. One of the teachers was named 
Douglass. The pupils would march to St. Luke's Church, Germantown, to 
service in Colonel Roumfort's day. William Green, who has just died in Ger- 
mantown, was a pui^il. There were two Mexican lads, brothers, named Canedo. 
One of them, Cipriano, married Peter Keyser's youngest daughter. Pupils 
came from all sections of the countrj^ Colonel Kober, a Prussian, taught 
German. One of the professors married Miss Wise on the Wissahickon. A 
cousin of the late William Green married a sister of this lad3^ 

Mount Airy College was founded by Rev. Francis Xavier Brosius. He was 
a Frenchman by birth, and the teaching of French was made quite a point in 
the instruction. Benjamin Condon Constant, another Frenchman, succeeded 
Brosius as principal, and had quite a flourishing school. The associate 



MOUNT AIRY. 367 

principal in 1826 was August L. Roumfort, who had been the teacher of 
mathematics and languages. Colonel Roumfort's father was contemporary 
with the DuPonts, of Wilmington, Del., and perhaps came to this country 
with them. When Mr. Constant left, Mr. Roumfort purchased the property 
and had some 150 pupils, sons of gentlemen. General Quitman, of the Con- 
fedrate Army, was a teacher in this college. The scholars were mostly south- 
erners. There were also Cubans and Mexicans. Simon F. Blount was a pupil. 

The college property was bought by Mr. William Rogers, who occupied it 
for many years as a summer residence. After his death James Gowen, the 
father of Franklin B. Gowen, the former President of the Reading Railroad, 
purchased it, in 1846. He demolished the old building and had a fine large 
stone mansion erected. It is roomy, and with its piazzas presents a very 
pretty appearance. This was occupied by the family of James Gowen as a 
residence from 1849 until the death of Mr. Gowen's widow in 1874, and has 
recently been sold to the Lutheran Church for their Theological Seminary, 
which is to be moved out from the city. The old house for the present will be 
retained as the central part of the institution, and there will be two wings 
three stories in height. There will be four towers on the building. It is to be 
constructed of light gray stone, with red stone trimmings. The chapel will 
be entered from beneath the balcony. Library, reading-rooms, study and 
class-rooms, and students' rooms will make a fine institution of this old site of 
learning. The architecture will be collegiate gothic, as the seminary is a 
building devoted to the interests of the church. The chapel and library will 
be fire-proof The seminar}' owns some rare and valuable books. The 
students' rooms will be in the wings. There will be laboratories on the first 
floor. The dining-room is to be in the basement of the south wing. Burd 
Patterson, a nephew of Dr. Burd, of Ninth and Chestnut streets, who after- 
ward moved to, and resided for many years at Pottsville, was professor of 
Latin in Mount Airy College. Rev. John R. Goodwin, a Lutheran clergyman, 
was professor of English literature. He afterward became an Episcopal 
clergyman and started the church at Pottsville in 1827. After leaving the 
college he took charge of the Germantown Academy. Felix Merino taught 
Spanish. His daughter Florentine teaches in Girard College. Merino was a 
nobleman driven from Spain for government reasons. He was a great gentle- 
man, and was the Spanish Consul. He died in Philadelphia. He has a son 
living in Philadelphia, -and several of his daughters are still living. 

In the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union, of Philadelphia, published by Martin 
E. J. Griffin, October 15 and November 1, '85 (double numbers), in the 
Library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, is an account by Mr. 
Griffin, of Mount Airy College, which I will abridge. The Seminary was 
opened March 16, A. D. 1807, by Rev. Francis Xavier Brosius. He had an 
advertisement in The Aurora of January 8th, stating that he had been urged 
to open the Seminary and would teach the languages, history, geograj^hy and 



368 MOUNT AIRY. 

mathematics, by means of proper masters. French was to be the "pre- 
dominant language.'' Applications for information were to be made to the 
principal, in the city, at No. 28 Pine street, or at Mr. Stephen Sicard's, No. 
130 Arch street. Rev. Dr. Carr, rector of St. Augustine's Church, commended 
the school, which was, I suppose, the individual work of .Rev. Mr. Brosius. 
Mr. Sicard was a dancing master, who gave practicing balls in a large room 
back of the Bank of Pennsylvania. On January 29, Mr. Brosius advertises 
" that he has taken that beautiful house and concerns called Mount Airy 
* * * which for healthfulness and situation he conceives cannot be 
surpassed." In an advertisement on April 24, it is stated that there is an 
elementary class. Terms and regulations will be given on application " to 
Rev. Dr. Carr, Messrs. P. Byrne, S. Sicard, L. Desaque, .J. Carrel, Matthew 
Carey." 

This article states that the Aliens were on the Colonial side until the 
Declaration of Independence, and then became loyalists, and Mount Airy was 
confiscated. 

Father Brosius came to America in A. D. 1792, with the Priest-Prince 
Gallitzin, who.se noble work near Altoona, Pennsylvania, is commemorated by 
the town which bears his worthy and honored name. He was an humble, 
devoted and benevolent priest, who strove at great sacrifice to guide his flock 
in temporal and spiritual affairs. Rev. Joseph M. Finotti, in his book " Biblio-, 
graphia Catholica Americana," p. 54, stales that the "venerable mother" of 
Gallitzin deputed Father Brosius to accompany the Prince-Priest to America, 
from Munster in Germany. Gallitzin called Brosius " a pious and learned 
priest." Brosius was in Boston a short time. Bishop Carroll sent him to 
Conewago. He was afterward pastor of St. John's, Baltimore. Among 
Brosius's pupils was George A. Carrell, of Philadelphia. He became Bishop 
of Covington, Ky. Years before his consecration he wrote Mark Antony 
Frenaye of Philadelphia of a person needing alms, "When she stated her 
case to me I wept, because I was so poor I could not even obtain one dollar 
to give her." 

Father Brosius, in 1813, issued " The Elements of Natural or Experimental 
Philosophy," at Philadelphia. The book was by Tiberius Cavallo, F.R.S., and 
notes from various authors were added by Brosius. Thomas Dobson published 
the book " at the Stone House, No. 41 South Second street, William Fry, 
Printer." 

In 1815 we find Brosius near Boston. In George Ticknor's Life, Vol. I, 
p. 11, it is said that Ticknor wanted to go to the University of Gottingen and 
desired instruction in German, but no one in Boston could give it. Brosius, 
then at Jamaica Plains, described as " a native of Strasburg " was ready to 
teach him, though warning him " that his pronunciation was bad, as was that 
of all Alsace which had become part of France." 



MOUNT AIRY. 369 

In 1815 Brosiiis put out " A New and Concise Method of Finding the Lati- 
tude by Double Latitudes of the Sun." This was dedicated to the Boston 
Marine Society. Cambridge, Hilliard and Metcalf, p. 51, 8vo. [See Finotti, 
p. 54.] 

Soon after this Brosius went back to Germany. He was in Cincinnati in 
1816. He held his Mt. Airy Seminary until 1813. It then became " a 
collegiate institution " in charge of B. Constant. There were " pupils from 
St. Louis, New Orleans, Charleston, West Indias and other distant places. 
John A. Quitman, Professor of English, afterward became a general in the 
Mexiean A¥ar and Governor of Mississippi. Admiral DuPont was a pupil. 
General A. L. Eoumfort was Professor of mathematics from 1818 to 1826, 
when he succeeded Constant. Eoumfort transferred it into a Military School 
under the title ' American Classical and Militarj^ Lyceum.' He continued it 
until 1834-35, when President Jackson appointed him Military Storekeeper 
in Philadelphia. Captain Alden Partridge, succeeded him in the Mt. Airy 
College." [Thompson Westcott in the Dispatch, November 18-25 and De- 
cember 2, 1883.] 

Captain Partridge, was also in charge of an establishment which was 
formerly Bristol College in Pennsylvania, and also of another in Norwich, 
Vermont. 

In Thompson Westcott's History of Philadelphia, chapter DCXXVI, Scrap 
Book, Vol. 5, in Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library, we read, after an 
account of Clermont Seminar}-, as follows : " E,ev. F. X. Brosius gave notice 
in 1807 that the Mount Airy Seminary, Germantown road, eight miles from 
Philadelphia, would open for scholars March 16th. ' The systeni of educa- 
tion laid down for the youth of the above establishment has been submitted 
to the Rev. Dr. (Jarr, Director of St. Augustine's Church, who has ajDproved 
thereof, and allows reference to be made to him, to afford parents and 
guardians every satisfaction on so essential a point. References : Rev. Dr. 
Carr, P. Byrne, S. Sicard, M. Carey, J. Campbell, Lewis DeSaussere.' Dr. 
Brosius was a Roman Catholic Clergyman, and his school was conducted in a 
manner satisfactory to the authorities of that Church." 

" At a later period the American Classical and Military Lyceum, at Mount 
Airy, was opened under the superintendence of B. Constant and of Colonel 
A. L. Roumfort, formerly of West Point. The latter subsequently succeeded 
to the control of the institution. The United States Military Academy was 
taken as a model for the internal government, and in the choice of authors to 
be studied in the different departments of science. The plan was to prepare 
the pupils for adinission to West Point and also to teach them the elements of 
mathematics and a perfect knowledge of the French language, as necessary 
to the study of the higher branches of mathematics and engineering. A 
course of navigation, and the application of trigonometry to nautical astron- 
om}' were proposed to be taught to young gentlemen of the navy who in- 
tended to fit themselves for examination. The hours generally appropriated 



370 MOUNT AIRY. 

to idle recreation in other schools were devoted to field exercises and attend- 
ing lectures on tactics and engineering. The school started with seven per- 
manent instructors, the number of which was to be increased to ten as addi- 
tions were made to the roll of cadets. The terms were ten dollars entrance 
and two hundred and fifty dollars a year, which included boarding, washing, 
mending, fuel and lights. The cadets were uniformed in gray, with pants of 
the same color in winter, and white Russia-duck sheeting for summer. The 
uniform cap was of black leather, with a bell-crown, seven inches high, semi- 
circular vizor, yellow plate and band of black jDompon six inches long, and a 
yellow cockade, with yellow eagle." 

There was the old contest of "Town and Gown " between the Germantown 
boys and the college pupils. The Cubans and others were aristocratic and 
looked down on the country lads. Fights resulted and Germantown generally 
got the victory, according to a Germantowner's report. Samuel Keyser's shoe- 
shop employed many boys who mixed with the Germantown crowd, and gave 
it strength. The shoe-shap was on the site of the Pastorious house, at Pas- 
torius and Main streets. Shoes were made for the southern trade. Samuel 
Keyser was Gideon Kej^ser's father. 

Colonel Roumfort graduated at West .Point in 1819, taking high honors. 
He was of noble birth in France, and when seven years of age came with his 
parents to the United States. The family were bereft of their property by the 
French Revolution. The principal of Mt. Airy College was a thorough Ameri- 
can citizen, very domestic, and gave up all titles. He was born December 10, 
A. D. 1796, and died August 2, 1878. He ceased teaching in 1835, and entered 
political life, selling his property to Mr. Rodgers. Colonel Roumfort did not 
add to the buildings. The main building, guard house and cells did their 
special work. The cells often received boys who had been disorderly. No. 7, 
a room above the cistern, was a private apartment for the larger pupils. 
No. 6 still stands as a laundry room, and the room above, as a servants' 
lodging room. Mr. Roumfort was an Episcopalian, and the students attended 
service at St. Luke's, Germantown, in the rectorship of the late Rev. John 
Jiodney. 

Professor Glass, now residing in the West, was once a teacher in Mt. Airy 
College. 

It is pleasant to think of Constant Guillou, Esq., Admiral DuPont and 
General Meade as in the same military company at Mt. Airy. The future 
General and Admiral knew not of the glory that awaited them in military 
life, while the lawyer made a name in quieter pursuits, in which his son 
succeeds him. Professor Constant was the godfather of Constant Guillou. 

In Townsend Ward's " Germantown Road," Pennsylvania Magazine of 
History, No. 4, Vol. VI, p. 381, I find a recommendation by Brosius of an 
epitome Historiae Sacrae published by Joseph De la Plaine and John F. 
Watson. 



MOUNT AIRY. 371 

General W. H. H. Davis, editor of the Doylestown Democrat, writes me that 
Mr. Roumfort " was a large, handsome-looking man, and had a good deal of 
the manners of a Frenchman." 

Mr. W. Y. McAllister, a former pupil at Mount Airy College, writes that 
" Mr. Constant died many years ago," and sends the following interesting list 
of pupils. When the roll is now called most of them must give Colonel New- 
combe's dying answer " adsum " (present) in another world : — 

" The following persons were at Mt. Airy School between 1826 and 1828. 
Part of the list is from the roll-call of 1826 or 1827, a copy of which is in my 
possession. 

Constant Guillou, Charles Guillou, Alfred Guillou, John Andrews, Henry 
Andrews, William Roberts, Alexander Henry Jandon, Napoleon A. Jennings, 
John IngersoU, Wilson R. Desilver, John L. Goddard, James Stokes Biddle, 
Edward Pease, Arnauld Thouron, Joseph C. Walsh, W. Y. McAllister, Ferdi- 
nand Stoever, Cowell, Francis Barry, Charles Duval, Robert Meade, Henry 
Warren, Richard Kelly, Lewis Henry Roumfort, Henrj' Willing, Alfred Coxe, 
Victor L. Godon, James West, Benjamin IngersoU, E. H. Abadie, Erriugham, 
Beauveau Borie, Sol. Vickers, Charles Geisse, Christian Geisse, George W. 
Geisse, G. W. Hunter, Gardette, George Gordon Meade, all of Philadelphia ; 
Francisco Cepero, of Porto Rico ; Robert Johnson, of Salem, New Jersey ; 
Louis Lalande, of Louisiana; Richard Bell and -Joseph Bell, of Cuba ; Charles 
Forstall, of Louisiana; Louis Lepage, of Norfolk, Va; W. C. Brien, of Frede- 
rick, Md. ; Stephen Bickham Girard, of Havre, France; Alexander Jean 
Jacques Blanche, of Louisiana ; Octavius Anthony Cazenove, of Alexandria, 
Va. ; George AV. Tyler, of Frederick, Md. ; Veneron Broes, of Louisiana ; 
William Sanvall, of Charleston, S. C. ; William Offutt, of Louisiana ; Charles 
Victor Berault, of New York ; Henry DuPont, of Wilmington, Del. ; Victor C. 
Sanchez, of Mexico ; Benigno Rojas, of South America ; Samuel Dickinson, of 
Trenton, New Jersey ; Raphael Benito, of South America ; Philip Horruitinal, 
of Cuba; Raphael Roca, of South America; .John Middleton, of Charleston, 
S. C. ; Persifor F. Myers, Chester, Pa. ; William Keim, Reading, Pa. ; Hoe, of 
Maryland ; W. S. Drayton, of South Carolina ; Ringgold, of Maryland, Edward 
Schriver, of York, Pa ; Brien, of Maryland ; Corall, of South America ; Baker, 
Thomas Forrest Betton, W. Green, all of Germantown, Pa.; Snyder, of some- 
where in Pennsylvania ; John Henry Hobart, of Pottstown, Pa. ; two brothers 
by the name of Fortier, from Louisiana ; Herbert, of Prince George Co., Md. ; 
Manadon, of Louisiana; McAllister, of Tennessee; Saul, of New Orleans; 
E. Crosby, Chester, Pa. ; Gen. George Gordon Meade, Thomas F. Betton, Henry 
DuPont, James S. Biddle, and Constant Guillou, became prominent men. Of 
this list all that I know now living are : Henry Wilson Andrews, James S. 
Biddle, G; W. Hunter, C. V. Berault, Henry DuPont, W. Y. McAllister. 

To this list of survivors should be added Charles Guillou, New York, and 
Henry Warren. 



372 MOUNT AIRY. 

As teachers, Professors Manlove, Abadie, Hall (Chemistrj'-) ; O'Flaherty 
(Elocution) ; Felix J. Grund and others must be added. 

H. W. Andrews names Mr. Claisson, of New York, as Professor of Belles- 
Lettres. He married a Germantown lady. He died in London, England. 

Richard Bell 2d, of Cuba, died at the school. The School once attended 
Presbyterian service in Germantown, under Rev. Mr. Baker, whose son died 
when a pupil, in 1827. 

General Meade's brother, Robert, was a pupil. Rev. Dr. Ducachet, was also 
a scholar. 

Rev. Dr. F. W. Conrad, editor of- the Lutheran Observer was a pupil at 
Mt. Airy. The Philadelphia Ledger gave an account of the celebration of 
the 50th Anniversary of his entrance to the ministry, which occurred May 30, 
A. D. 1889. 

Col. Roumfort had a clerical appearance. He used to read the Scriptures 
and morning prayers for the school. He also read sermons, I suppose, on Sun- 
days. 

It is pleasant to look at the photos preserved with loving care by Wm. Y. 
McAllistei'; they must' be specially interesting to the "old boys." 

Dr. Edward Pease, of Philadelphia, was a pupil. He married a daughter 
of Richard Willing. 

The mark in a former pupil's notes after Chas. Forstall's name (Louisiana), 
is " a right good fellow." 

Mr. Henry DuPont, of Wilmington, Delaware, gave many names for Mr. Mc- 
Allister's list of pupils. 

The wife of the drummer or fifer " kept a little shop up the lane " where the 
boys' pennies went " for cranberry tarts, chestnuts, cakes and apjjles." Passes 
signed by Col. Roumfort were necessary in going out of bounds. 

Mr. George W. Hunter, a former pupil at Mt. Airy in Col. Roumfort's day, 
speaks of Mr. Pierson, one of the instructors, as having been a good teacher of 
English branches of learning. 

Mr. W. Y. McAllister's notes in manuscript state that Madame Williams 
was in charge of the house matters. Her daughter. Miss Adele, married Mr. 
Abadie. 

There was a girls' school at Mt. Airy College before it became a boys' school. 
Madame Chapron kept it. Mr. McAllister's mother was a pupil. 

The French people who came to this section appear to have been very 
industrious, and were ready to adapt themselves to their work. They had the 
true nobility of self-respect, but had seen better days in France. 

Mr. McAllister wi-ites thus in his reminiscences : " All that is left of the old 
place is a small stone tool house on the northwestern side of the lot. 

" It was a military school and we had a musket and a uniform, and morn- 
ing and evening parade, and were called up in the morning by the fife and 
drum, and the tattoo beat at night for bedtime. The uniform was gray, 
trimmed with black braid and round gilt buttons, one of which I now have. 



MOUNT AIRY. 373 

Every boy's clothes and bedding were numbered. My number was sixty, and 
the numbers on this list are the clothes' numbers." A list of pupils follows in 
Constant and Roumfort's time. 

The numbering was probably imported from France. A friend of mine 
who studied in Paris, in after years in a public conveyance, was startled to 
hear his number called out in French, and found the old designation came 
from the lips of a fellow pupil. Reviewing school life is sad, and one could 
wish for a poet like Gray to describe Mt. Airy instead of Eton College. The 
faithful list covers much territory. Porto Rico, New Jersey and Louisiana are 
here contiguous. Joseph Bell (Bell 1st) dies at his residence in Madrid, Spain ; 
Stephen Bickham Girard is marked Havre, France ; Victor Caledonia Sanchez 
is from Mexico. It was not uncommon in those days for foreigners to put sons 
under the care of business friends in the United States, who selected a school for 
them. A friend has just given me a case where his father thus chose Mt. Airy 
for one or two foreign wards. Raphael Benito and Raphael Roca, from the Re- 
public of Columbia, and Phillippi Horruitinal, of Cuba, are noted together. Dr. 
Edward Pease, of Philadelphia, was a pupil. Benjamin IngersoU, another 
scholar, died at Rome. McAllister, of Tennessee, was killed in the Texan war. 
Saul, of New Orleans, is noted. Could it have been the late benevolent Rev. 
Dr. Saul ? 

Philadelphia, March 30, 1888. 

Dear Sir. — My recollection of the Mt. Airy School, though very vivid, affords 
no material for interesting anecdote. It was not called a "School "or a 
"College," but a "Military Lyceum," and in its character, as well as name, 
was something of a new departure. The study of the classics was thrown 
into the back ground and the chief attention was given to modern languages 
and mathematics. All the teachers were excellent, being far better than I have 
ever seen elsewhere, and no pupil left there without being well grounded in 
French and Spanish. The discipline was strict. There was no corporal pun- 
ishment whatever, but I do recollect having my ears boxed most unjustly by 
Mr. Constant for mispronouncing the French word medicin. 1 am afraid to 
say how many years ago this was, but I am not sure that I have forgiven him. 
Perhaps with this incident I may point a moral for teachers. 

Col. Roumfort was a graduate of West Point, and in every way a very capa- 
ble man. .After the school was broken up he became Superintendent of the 
U. S. Arsenal at Frankford, and later, Superintendent of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad at Harrisburg, and Mayor of the city. 

Mr. Constant, a Frenchman of good abilities, was really the founder of the 
school. When it closed he went to Havana and was private tutor in the 
Scull family, an offshoot of the Sculls of this city. 

The school building was directly on the street and of large extent. It had 
been the residence, before the Revolution, &f Chief Justice Allen. Charles 
Biddle, in his autobiography says : " Mr. Allen used to say ' that America 



374 MOUNT AIRY. 

was the finest countrj'- in the world ; ' ' Pennsylvania the garden of America' ; 
' Philadelphia the first city of America' ; and ' his house the best situated of 
any in Philadelphia.' " I presume he spoke of Philadelphia county, and that 
our school was the home he had reference to. Not a stone of it is left, but a 
year ago I stood by the pump whence I had filled my wash basin on many a 
cold morning. There was no coddling of boys in those days. 

The chief distinction of the Mt. Airy School, however, is that there our gal- 
lant fellow townsman, George G. Meade, received the first rudiments of that 
military training which enabled him to save his beloved Pennsylvania in her 
hour of danger. Every Mt. Airy boy is proud to have been a schoolmate of 
the hero of Gettysburg. 

*' His name a great example stands to show, 
How strangely high endeavors may be blessed, 
Where piety and valor jointly go." 

jAMEi S. BiDDLE. 

Mr. W. Y. McAllister has furnished the following article from the pen of 
TowxsEND Ward, which appeared in the Philadelphia Age, August 26, 
A. D. 186J. It is pleasant to hear again from one who started his walk on the 
Gerraantown Road, and fell by the wayside before it was finished. 

" Gorgas's lane was the last point we reached, and at the northeast corner of 
it and the avenue is Mr. Carstair's old place; not far beyond which but on 
the west side and far removed from the avenue, is the Lutheran Orphans' 
Home, with Klincken Johnson's old stone house on the north side of the front 
of its lot. There are now for a time, fewer houses, but the general appearance 
and character of the road is preserved, and soon we come on rising ground, 
through which the turnpike passes by a considerable excavation. This is now 
called Mount Pleasant, and on the southwest side is Mr. George Garrett's house 
and well-kept grounds. Opposite is the mansion of Admiral Breeze, recently 
ei'ected, and a little north of it, the old house once belonging to Mr. Pierce, 
but now quite altered from the strange looking thing which many j'et remem- 
ber as having been called ' The Steamboat,' because on its top was built an 
additional story, all windows, that had the appearance of an upper deck. It 
failed of its purpose, a cocoonery, but the mulberry trees which supplied the 
silk-worms with their food of leaves, still stand in the rear of the premises. A 
stone here marks eight miles from Vine street. The houses, as for some little 
distance past, are yet rather sparsely set along the road, but it is not very far 
to the house on the west side, formerly of Charles Bonsall, now living in Cin- 
cinnati, and which has become one of the boarding houses of Mrs. Miller. 
These are situated on the nearest part of Mount Airy, which, however, at this 
point, is of the same elevation, and is the same hill as Mount Pleasant. 
Opposite these houses is one of stone, near the roof of which is the mark ' 17, 
W. Hottenstein, 95.' The Odd Fellows' Hall is not much beyond, and opposite 
to it, on the west side, is the White Swan, and very near is Allen's lane. But 



MOUNT AIRY. 3,75 

the ground has fallen off a little, and again has risen as we reach on the east 
side, the commencement of Mr. James Gowen's place, with its front of five 
hundred feet along the road. This was once the country seat of Chief Justice 
Allen, the man of the greatest wealth of all of them in the colonj'^, and whose 
great coach with four black horses was long remembered. On the approach 
of the Revolution, the Chief Justice went to England, and died there in 1780. 
His son Andrew Allen, .successor to Judge Chew, who had succeeded the 
father, was a member of the Continental Congress and of the Committee of 
Safety ; but in the dark days of 1776 he put himself under the protection of 
General Howe, at Trenton, and went to England, where he died in London in 
1825. John also joined the British at the same time with his brother. Will- 
iam, another son, at first served under General St. Clair, but he, too, succumbed 
in 1776, and a year afterward raised a corps called the Pennsylvania Loyalists, 
of M'hich he was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding. James, who died in 1777, 
was the only son who did not join the Royalists. Since Fort Allen no longer 
exists, the name of the family is almost unknown to us, except in Allen's lane 
and in the town on the banks of the Lehigh. 

"About the beginning of the century, the place was occupied, and, perhaps, 
owned by a Frenchman, Mr. Tarascon, who lived there with his brother. 
Their town residence was the double house on the lot, where now stands the 
Arch Street Theatre. Not long after that time, these gentlemen went to Port- 
land, Kentucky, where they established factories, and where, in 1825, they still 
remained. About the time Mr. Tarascon had left the place it was for a short 
time used for the school for females, established by the competent Madame 
Chapron. Not long afterward a noble emigrant from France assuming his 
wife's name of Bouchard, but subsequently resuming his own, Roumfort, 
instituted a school there. After a time he had for an associate, Mr. Constant, 
another Frenchman who had also possessed a title in France ; and a little 
subsequent to this, Mr. Constant conducted the school by himself, and continued 
to do so for a number of years. In the course of time he associated with 
himself a son of the gentleman who first established the school. Colonel 
Roumfort, who is now living, is the present Mayor of Harrisburg. Under the 
administration of accomplished gentlemen the school justly acquired consider- 
able celebrity. It was changed to a militarj' school under its latter management) 
and among its pupils were many of the youth of the day, not a few coming 
from Louisiana. Mr. Forstall and General Planche, who was second in 
command under General Jackson at New Orleans, were there. Admiral 
DuPont and his brother, Henry DuPont, were pupils. General Quitman of 
Mississippi, well remembered for his amiable courtesj^, was for a time a teacher- 
General George G. Meade and the Reverend Dr. Ducachet were pupils, and also 
Warren and Cowell, sons of the celebrated actors of those names, and John L. 
Goddard, Doctors Edward Peace and Thomas F. Betton, John and Benjamin 
Ingersoll, William Heyward Drayton, William Y. McAllister, a Walsh, a Borie 
and a Gardette, and Mr. Constant Guillou,, for whom Mr. Constant was god- 



37G MOUNT AIRY. 

father, and to whom his name was given. This gentleman remembers, as an 
incident of his .school days, that the boys would write their names high up in 
the cupola, and that above all the others, was that of Verrier, with whose children 
his own subsequently intermarried. In one of the nocturnal battles the 
opposing parties of the school, with pillows for their weapons, struggled for 
victory until the signal that Mr. Constant was at hand, when in another in- 
stant every boy was in bed and seemingly asleep, as boys so perfectly can feign ; 
— all of them except Berrabi Sanchez, a Mexican, who happened to be at too 
great a distance to be able to reach his bed in time to avoid discovery. With 
perfect presence of mind he stood quite still while Mr. Constant passed his 
candle before his ej'es, exclaiming ' Wonderful ! Wonderful ! He is a som- 
nambulist.' With another striking evidence that he was not conscious tha^ 
he was in the presence of a superior, Sanchez turned toward his bed and got 
into it ; Mr. Constant carefully arranging the clothes and expressing his admira- 
tion by repeated exclamations. Years after this, in one of the many revolutions 
in unhappy Mexico, Sanchez was pursued by some soldiers, and for the last 
time got into a bed, and under a mattress where he was bayoneted to death.. 

" On one occasion the Latin teacher asked young Guillou whether he had 
studied his lesson, and to his repl}^ ' Yes, sir,' exclaimed, ' How can you tell 
me such a lie ? You have not studied it.' Guillou, with the courage of that 
day, retorted, ' How can you, sir, tell such a lie ! I have studied it.' For the 
ofFens3 he was imprisoned in the guard house for a week, and when liberated, 
his young companions carried the youthful martyr on their shoulders in 
triumph around the grounds. It is among the earlj^ recollections of a well- 
known physician of French descent, that when lie and Colonel Roumfort were 
boys and very intimate, they emulated Beaumont and Fletcher bv writing and . 
acting as a joint jiroduction, a play that rivalled Fielding's ' Tom Thumb ' ; 
for while Fielding only kills off all his characters at the end of his fifth act^ 
they accomplished that feat in the first of their tragedy, and so had not a sin- 
gle character left with which to commence a second act. 

" Old Moore, the drummer, and Bender, the fifer, were so recently living at 
Nicetown that it is probable they yet survive ; but the school and many of its 
scholars have passed away ; the house is down and in its place stands another 
erected by Mr. Gowen. We cannot leave the spot without remarking how 
manjr French names have been associated with it. The yellow house near the 
entrance and one situated in the rear of it, and of the same color, were part of 
the College buildings. After the military school ceased to exist, these build- 
ings, together with one next to be mentioned, were occupied during its brief 
existence, by the Agricultural College under the charge of Mr. Wilkinson. 
On the north of the yellow buildings is the large double house of stone, built 
in 1792, by Joseph Miller. Mr. Joseph B. Baker lived there while Collector 
of the Port, but it is now occupied by Mrs. John F. Ohl. On the other side of 
the avenue is the pretty place of the gardener, Mr. Charles H. Miller, to whose 
taste Chestnut Hill is not a little indebted. Only a little further, situated, 



MOUNT AIRY. 377 

however, upon the east side, is where the old Golden Swan stood, at which the 
elections were held. It was torn down some fifteen years ago, and the present 
building, now occupied by Mrs. Latour, was erected by Mr. Gowen. 

" Two or three fields of no great extent, now make us for a moment suppose 
we are about to leave the constant succession of houses, and give almost a 
farm-like appearance to the scene. But it quickly vanishes. On the west side 
is the house where General Michael W. Ash, Representative in Congress, once 
lived ; then on the same side comes Mr. Shaffer's place, with its well-looking 
house standing in a group of fine weeping willows and other trees. Opposite 
to this the previously curving road, to avoid a hill, sweeps a little to the right, 
around some rocks, and then descends to the lower ground through which 
Cresheim creek passes, with old stone houses on its banks. On the ri.sing 
ground a little beyond the creek, and surrounded by fine old trees which add 
to its attractive appearance, is the Mermaid-Inn, a name that cannot but recall 
that .still more ancient Mermaid in l^'riday street, London, where, about the 
year 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh instituted the club of beaux esprits, which com- 
bined more talent and genius than ever met together before or since. The rare 
Ben Jonson, and sweetest Shakespeai'e, fancy's child, Beaumont and Fletcher, 
and Selden, with many others of hardly less note, regularly met there, and 
■discovered that what Ben Jonson wants 

' Is a pure cup of rich canary wine, 
Which is the Mermaid's now, but shall be mine." 

" Standing at the corner of the turnpike and Mermaid lane is an old log house, 
nicely whitewashed and well preserved, that is a fine specimen of the style of 
building once almost universal, but of wdiich the last vestiges are now rapidly 
disappearing. An old occupant of it, Conrad Weiss, is well remembered for 
his disordered reason, but whether crazed with care, or crossed in hopeless love 
no story tells. He w^as remarkable for great physical strength, and had a habit 
of walking daily to the end of Germantown and back again, stopping, however, 
before some store to deliver a long oration witli considerable emphasis and 
gesticulation, pointing ever and anon to the paper in his hand, which, to his 
disturbed intellect, fully sustained the view he had taken of tiie subject of his 
discourse. Beyond Mermaid lane the houses are nearer together and not 
unfrequently adjoin one another. The Park avenue soon crosses the turnpike, 
and near it a house of an early date stands some distance from the turnpike. 
The Wissahickon avenue next crosses, and is being macadamized. Upon the 
east side, a little further on, is the. large stone house, with a stone barn back of 
it, formerly of the Rex family. 

" We are now at Hartwell avenue, and on the right hand the tower of the 
Chestnut Hill Water Company appears in sight. Then comes the Masonic 
Hall built by Hiram Lodge. The large stone house of Doctor Rex is soon 
passed, and not far off is the Eagle Inn, an old stone building with a front of 
•eighty-five feet, erected long ago by Jacob Peters, and where his line of Pliila- 
•<ielphia stages stopped. After passing a few houses we come to Summit street, 



378 MOUNT AIRY. 

the elevation of which point cabove ordinary high tide is four hundred and 
forty-tliree feet. Here at the gate sits the worthy and simple hearted man who 
for many years has taken toll from him bound for Whitemarsh, or for the 
further Bethlehem, to reach which place, one must keep to the right. 

" On the west, or left-hand side of that road along which M'e are sauntering,, 
is the place of Mr. Caleb C!o])c ; then Presbyterian lane, on the far side of which 
is the church which has lent its name to the narrow road. Beyond is the house 
where dwells Mr. Ambrose White, who, although in the ninetieth year of his 
age, may be seen walking about as if but three score years were on his head,, 
or, often he may be seoi on horse-back, and not unfrequently, thus mounted,, 
on his ride to the city. On the right hand, is Dr. Moss's house, and then at the 
other corner of Chestnut Hill avenue is General Owens's. The Methodist 
Church on tlie left-hand comes after Mr. White's. Then on the east side is the 
beautiful place and capacious mansion of Mr. Richard Norris, and opposite to 
it is Mr. Re.x's, beyond which is Mr. Isaac Starr's, and next to it, Mr. .J. Krider's.. 
On the east side and opi^osite to Mr. Starr, is a place belonging to Mr. Henry 
Norris, next to which is that of Mr. Charles Taylor ; on the north side of whose 
grounds stands the cottage of the late William H. Brown. On the west side,, 
then appears the extensive and beautiful Ilildeburn place, now occupied by 
Mr. Isaac S. Waterman. Willow avenue now leaves the turnpike by passing 
northeastwardly across the side of Mr. Taylor's place. That on the further 
side of Willow avenue belongs to Mr. Henry Norris, and is his residence; but 
it owes its beauty to the good taste of Mr. William Henry Trotter, who estab- 
lislied it. The Norway firs, which line its front, were wisely and fortunately 
planted so far apart that their growth has not been checked. 

" We are now on the descent from Chestnut Hill, and the road to Bell's mill 
crosses the turnpike. On the right liand side is the residence of Mr. Randolph 
Price, formerly of Thomas Earj), and n(-xt to it a house .so old that one of 
Washington's many nurses might almost have been born in it, but in which,, 
it is well known, Mr. William Stroud has lived for many y«ar.s. And now we 
turn to the left hand and gain the elevation of an outlying hill of considerable- 
extent, formerly called ' The Sugar Loaf,' and commanding even a finer view 
of the charming valley at its foot. On this hill, fine as it is, and which is even 
less adorned by the trees and shrubbery, and the beautiful hou.ses of Mr. Edward 
H. Trotter, and Mr. John Tiiomp.son, than by the exquisitely English-like 
sward which they have brought to something like perfection, one may have a 
view from its southwestern side, of the nearer part of the wooded region 
througli which the romantic Wissahickon breaks. The elevated hills and 
their sloping sides, broken into wild and charming irregularity by the winding 
cour.se of the beautiful stream, are covered with a seemingly primevel forest^, 
that shall in time allure the artist to one of his richest fields. These woods are 
to be preserved, and already owners have been prohibited from felling trees, for 
under the authority of recent legislation, the Park Commissioners wisely use- 
their absolute power over the wood and water; and they design also, that in. 



MOUNT AIRY. 379 

time, the fine drives now in progress of construction shall be extended to this 
point. One feature in the grounds of Mr. Trotter and Mr. Thompson, which 
latter place wa.s laid out by Mr. Charles W. Trotter, is well wortii mentioning. 
The walks are constructed of a foundation of broken stone, on which a mixture 
of tar and gravel is laid, over which more gravel is spread. The sides or gutter 
part of the carriage drives are made in the same manner. Passing over an 
undulating surface, they are consequently exposed to a thorough test of their 
cai)acity to resist washing, and an experience of several years, with no part 
imjjaired, would seem to show that something like a correct principle in road- 
making liad been adopted. 

" In front, lying at our feet, as it were, is the beautiful and fertile valley of 
Whitemarsh, over and beyond which, on a clear day, the vision may have a 
range of many miles, even so far as to include the distant hills of Heading. 
Less than a mile distant is the charming place that Mr. John C. Bullitt 
embellished and occupied for several years, and alongside of it, the extensive 
grounds of the Convent of St. Joseph. On approaching it, just as a boy 
mounted on a donkey passes by, its vesper bells strike upon the ear, and for a 
moment we are transported to Italy or Spain, and look around to see the holy 
friar who should be there, or the pilgrim with his scallop shell, fresh from tlie 
shrine of St. lago de Comj)ostella. These have not come yet, perhaps may 
never come. The order of the Sisters of St. Joseph have, however, established 
this as the Mother House, with the well-known Sister St. John, as the Superi- 
oress, to preside over it. Within its gates are eighteen sisters professed, eight- 
een novices, and eight postulants — the total number in the diocese being one 
liundrcd and forty -seven. At this convent, which, by the way, is not a clois- 
tered one, the sisters have an academy, for their mission includes teaching as 
well as nursing, and this, their Academy of St. Joseph, as they call it, has fifty 
boarders and forty day scholars. The chapel is attended by the Augustinian 
Fathers of Chestnut Hill. 

To the north of the Convent, and about a mile distant, is the farm of three 
hundred acres, where Mr. A. Welch has established himself in a ])ur.suit that 
requires not only great resources and an unusual capacity for administration, 
but one that at the same time elicits the peculiar pride in the possession of a 
fine courser, and that tender affection for him which are such attractive 
features in the character of an Arabian chieftain, Pasturing in fine fields, or 
well cared for in capacious stables, are some scores of horses and colts of the 
best stock in the country. While some of them are of striking beauty, there arc 
among them those bearing names which have become famous over the world ; 
and it is hardly too much to say that nowhere can be found their superiors, 
perhaps not even their equals. The track at Buffalo, on which Dexter made 
his famous time, and on which recently even that has been almost rivalled, is 
proverbially a quick track, while that near the city of New York, on wliicii 
Lady Thorne made her fast time, is well known to be a slow track. And so 
the time of no two tracks can very well be compared ; for the ground of one 



380 MOUNT AIRY. 

may be hilly or it may be heavy, or the measurement may not be so near the 
pole or inside line, as may be the case with the other. An apparently trivial 
circumstance may, therefore, be the cause of that difference of a second or two 
in a mile, the declaration of which, as there is an Atlantic cable, now agitates 
two continents, not, however, without exciting the indignation of an old-time 
Pennsylvanian, whose honest heax't knows the practice of no guile. No one can 
visit this place without a desire to see that marvel, Flora Temple, so long 
known, and with no blemish to indicate work or age." 

CRESHEIM. 

The name Cresheim was given to the stream which iiow forms the boundary 
between Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy, and empties into the Wissahickon at 
the romantic spot called the " Devil's Pool," which was a well-known place of 
resort for picnics, etc., back as far as Revolutionary times. It also designated 
a tract of land above Germantown. Cresheim is apparently what is now 
known as " Kriegsheim," which means war's home. 

In response to a query about Cresheim, the following letter was kindly 
sent me : 

When I visited Germany in 1874, I was quite anxious to discover the town 
of Kriesheim in the Palatinate, as no manual of geography, geographical dic- 
tionary or map recorded such a name. How I finally became convinced that 
the place now called Kriegsheim, about six miles from Worms, is identical 
with the old Kriesheim, and some particulars of my visit, I have related in Thk 
Friend of November 28, 1874. The dealings that Wilham Penn had with the 
Quaker converts of Kreisheim are very pleasantly related by him in his 
Journal of a visit to Holland and Germany in 1677. I have tried to supple- 
ment his account from other sources in a paper printed in the Pennsylvania 
Magazine of 1878. (" William Penn's Travels in Germany.") I have noth- 
ing further to add to the information contained in the articles mentioned, except 
that Rev. Mr. Keller, of Kriegsheim, in a letter received a few years ago, 
makes mention of further documentary confirmation as to the identity of 
Kriesheim and Kriegsheim. 

Very respectful Ij"^ yours, 

Oswald Seidenstickee. 

In The Friend, Seventh day, Eleventli -month 28th, 1874, Prof. Oswald 
Seidensticker, of the University of Pennsylvania, gives an account of his search 
after Cresheim in Germany, which I will condense. He speaks of Cresheim 
street and Cresheim creek, in Germantown, as " time-honored names," witness- 
ing to the fact that some of the early settlers came from a German Krisheim. 
He states that Sewel relates how William Ames, a Friend, visited that village 
in the Palatinate and made the acquaintance of Baptists (Mennonites ?) in 
Kriesheim, which was not far from Worms. Some of the Germans became 
Friends and emigrated to Pennsylvania. Not long after the Palatinate was 
wasted by the French in a war. (Philadelphia edition, 1826, Vol. I, p. 260.) 



MOUNT AIRY. 381 

In Stephen Crisp's Journal, in 1669, is a note acknowledging the preserva- 
tion of the Lord who brought him to Greisheim, where divers had embraced 
the Friends' doctrines. (London edition, 1694, p. 23.) 

William Penn, in his mission in Holland and Germany, visited and com- 
forted these Friends. In his Journal of Twenty -third day of Sixth month , 
1677, he writes that he reached Crisheim, the Paltzgrave's country, and joy- 
fully found " a meeting of tender and faithful people." Though the Friends 
were in danger of governmental interference in preaching, Penn dared to speak 
to the meeting, declaring that he was ready to be carried to testify before the 
Prince. The meeting was quiet, " of which a coachful from Worms made a 
part." (Collections of Works of Penn, two volumes, London, 1726, A^'ol. I, p. 
72.) On another visit he walked from Worms to Crisheim, being " about six 
English miles," and had a good meetiiag on the Lord's day. " The Vaught or 
chief officer himself stood at the door of the barn, where he could hear and 
not be seen." These "poor hearts" had mostly been "gathered by dear 
William Ames." 

Some years later Penn was proprietor of Pennsylvania, on which the 
Paiatiuate would have made a small appearance in size. He invited the per- 
secuted to his broad domain, and Krisheim people joined the settlement of 
Pastorius, the agent of the Frankfort Company at Germantown. Peter Schu- 
macher, John Krey, Isaac Thomas Williams, John and Arnold Cassel, and a 
number of the Hendricks family, were among these. 

In 1689 German township was laid out and its four divisions were German- 
town, Krisheim, Summerhausen and Crefeld. The two last-named designa- 
tions have faded away. 

Prof. Seidensticker was naturallj^ anxious to trace the Krisheim whence the 
Germantowners came, and to look up its traditions. He found no name with 
the American spelling, but Kriegsheim (meaning in German, war's home) and 
Griesheim were puzzlingly near Worms. The Lutheran parson at Worms 
could not tell him where William Penn had preached among Quakers, and 
did not know that there had been Quakers near him, or that Penn had made 
a missionary tour here, though Penn's Journal states that a predecessor of his 
had gone from Worms to be at Penn's meeting in August, A. D. 1677. Greis- 
heim seemed nearer to Cresheim in spelling as G and K are interchanged. 
Stephen Crisp had styled the place Greisheim, but no Greisham answered to 
the distance from Worms given by Penn, though there were several villages 
so called, and they were outside the Palatinate, while Kriegsheim was within 
it, and "at the proper distance." So Prof. Seidensticker visited Kriegsheim, 
and in his half-mile walk from the railway at Monsheim pondered over Penn, 
the founder of u great commonwealth, who had passed through grain fields 
and potato patches about two centuries before to teach German peasants in 
divine things, near where Luther had spoken bold words before the Imperial 
Diet of Worms. Kriegsheim is for the most part " two rows of humble dwel- 
lings lining the road." The Professor sought the clergyman of the village for 
information. 



382 MOUNT AIRY. 

The Rev. Mr. Keller, who was the jDarson, was surprised at the information 
given him. He had never heard of anj^ Quakers in the A'illage, nor of William 
Penn's visit, nor of the emigration to America of Krisheimers. The Professor 
gave him the names, from " Besse's Sufferings of the Quakers," of Hendricks, 
Jansen, Laubeck, Moret Gerritts and Schumacher as inhabitants of Krisheim, 
who had been fined for being Friends. There were no such family names 
then in Kriegsheim, except that of Jansen, and they had no traditions of a 
Quaker ancestry. 

The clergyman had a manuscript volume noting the assessment of real 
estate in the middle of the last century, where the name of the German village 
was spelled Kreisheim, so that Kriegsheim appeared an innovation. The 
names did not aid a solution of the question. The books recording births, 
deaths and marriages, which are noted carefully in Germany were missing. 
The person who had had charge of them was annoyed by the queries concern- 
ing them from descendants of those who were deceased. He therefore stated 
that the records were missing, and a popular report states that they were 
burned. 

The Professor was deeply annoyed at this break in a connecting link in 
tracing the settlers of Germantown to their old home. The schoolmaster was 
called on " to no purpose." The teacher knew of Penn's works in Pennsyl- 
vania, but did not know that the famous founder of Pennsjdvania had walked 
through his village and preached in a barn. He had never heard of German 
Quakers. 

Professor Seidensticker afterward made inquiries in Griesheim, but the old 
church records did not contain the names of Besse. He thinks that the dis- 
tance given by Penn from Worms to Krisheim fastened the conclusion on 
Kriegsheim. While it is remarkable that oblivion has covered the local 
history, it may be probable that all the Quakers of the village became emi- 
grants to Pennsylvania ; and " the atrocious war waged by Louis the Four- 
teenth in the Palatinate, singed out cities and villages and scattered the inhab- 
itants. Worms, with the surrounding country, was most severely smitten 
duriilg that war." 

In the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, A. D. 1878, Vol. II, No. 3, Prof. 
Seidensticker's lecture before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania on 
" William Penn's Travels in Holland and Germany in 1677," is given. It 
contains an account of the progress of the Friends, and of the relation of 
Penn's visit to the formation of the Frankfort Company. On page 265, we 
read of Penn's visit to Krisheim, where " a little congregation of German 
Quakers had, in spite of many tribulations, managed to hold together ever 
since William Ames and George Rolfe, in the year 1657, had convinced them." 

At times traveling Friends visited " this distant offshoot of their brother- 
hood." William Carter had a pleasant visit there, and assisted in " the time 
of their vintage." Stephen Crisp and William Moore also visited here. 

Penn also sought these " simple husbandmen and weavers " to comfort his 
co-religionists and preached to them. 



MOUNT AIRY. 383 

To check the local annoyances of the inoffensive Friends, he strove to make 
■" a personal appeal to the sovereign of the Palatine, Charles Louis." He 
walked to Mannheim, but the Prince had gone to Heidelberg, and, as Penn 
was to hold another meeting in Krisheim, he could not go after him, but 
wrote a strong and noble plea for liberty of conscience. 
. When Penn preached the second time in Krisheim in a barn, the magistrate 
listened behind the door and made a good report of the character of the teaching. 

When it was learned that Penn had a vast estate in North America, where 
liberty of conscience was allowed, the Quakers and Mennonites of Krisheim 
determined to emigrate thither. 

At Duisburg, on the Rhine, Penn became acquainted with Dr. Gerhard 
Mastricht, having a letter of introduction to him from a Cologne merchant. 
He afterward became a partner in the Frankfort Company, his share entitling 
him to 1666| acres of land in Pennsylvania. Penn's present visit however 
was only of a religious nature. His preaching was earnest and effective, and 
he was undaunted by opposition, believing that he was performing his duty. 
Fox spoke through an interpreter. It is thought that Penn may have preached 
in Dutch and German, as he could use these languages "with some fluency." 
His mother, Margaret .Jasper, was born in Holland, her father being John 
Jasper, a Rotterdam merchant. Pepys says (I give the extract to which Prof. 
Seidensticker only refers giving but a few words from it. Diary, August 19, 
1664) : " To Sir W. Penn's, to see his lady the first time, who is a well-looked, 
fat, short old Dutch woman, but one that hath been heretofore pretty hand- 
some, and is now very discreet, and I believe hath more wit than her 
husbaiid. Here we staid talking a good while, and very well pleased I was 
with the old woman." Janney's " Life of Penn," narrates that when Peter the 
Great was in England, the Friends chose William Penn to convei'se with hifta 
in German and state their views. Penn's personal magnetic influence proved 
very great in his tour in Holland and Germany. His religion was fervent. 
While Penn's journey was not a business one, the friends he then made re- 
membered him, and the Frankfort Company was started by some of them. 
They held five shares, being 25,000 acres of Pennsylvania land, and Quakers 
from Krisheim came to Germantowu. 

Crefeld also sent its quota, and was commemorated in the name of the region 
above Chestnut Hill. In the Memorable Account of Christian Experience of 
Stephen Crisp, London, 1694, occurs this, note : " Another time he made a 
journey into the county of Meurs, to the town of Crevel, where a meeting was 
set up." 

Benjamin Furly, of Rotterdam, had been a " traveling companion " of 
Penn, and became the agent to negotiate the sale of the land, and procure 
passage. for emigrants. He applied to James Claj'pole, and secured a passage 
"on the Concord, William Jeffries, Master, a staunch vessel of five hundred 
tons' burthen. It was to. sail on the 17th of July, but, as the Crefelders were 
•delayed, did not leave till the 24th." James Claypole's letter-book MSS. of 



384 MOUNT AIEY. 

the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. " This pioneer guard of German emi- 
grants to America consisted of thirty-three persons forming thirteen families." 
Prof Seidensticker adds the names of the heads of families, and refers to 
" Germantown Orund and Lager Buck in the Recorder's office, Philadelphia." 

The Concord had a long but " pleasant passage," and reached Philadelphia, 
October 8, A. D. 1683. James Claypole writes : " The blessing of the Lord did 
attend us, so that we had a very comfortable passage, and had our health all 
the way." Peter Bleickers was born on board the ship. (Abington Meeting 
Records.) 

Pastorius had preceded these emigrants by a few weeks' voyaging "in the 
America, Captain Wasey." Penn received him kindly and hospitablj^ and 
doubtless the Krisheim Friends were glad to meet Penn again, on the " free 
soil of Pennsjdvania," where no persecutor could attack them. New homes 
rose in the " German-towai," and Penn preached at Peter Shoemaker's to the 
new settlers. 

Penn thus " opened the gates through which Germany poured a continuous 
and widening stream of emigration into the new^ province." The armies of 
Louis XIV helped to drive Germans from home to more peaceful quarters. 
Cruelty wasted the Palatinate wdth " fire and rapine." " Those that could es- 
cape to Pennsylvania blessed the asylum prepared for them, and twice blessed 
its enlightened and kind-hearted founder." " Not onlj' the Pennsylvania 
pioneers of English nationalit}' recognize in William Penn their head and 
leader, the standard of religious liberty that he planted here, shone as a 
beacon sign also to the oppressed multitudes of Germany, and gladty they 
flocked to the fertile vales whither the gentle Friend invited them." 

Thus does Prof. Seidensticker close the learned article which has been here 
o^lj'' in part synopsized, and those who wish to learn more of the romantic 
events that accompanied this tour of Penn, and of the Labadists, and kindred 
subjects should read the complete article. 

WAR TIMES. 

While the Battle of Germantown has been described in these articles, an 
account of the skirmish at Mount Airy is appropriate here. In Sparks's 
Washington, Vol. V, pp. 468-9, is an extract from a letter written by Colonel 
.John E. Howard to Colonel Pickering, dated Baltimore, January 29th, 1827. 
It says : " As we descended into the valley near Mt. Airy the sun rose, but 
was soon obscured. The British picket at Allen's house had two six-pounders, 
which were several times fired at the advance, and killing several persons. 
Sullivan's division in the valley left the road, and moved to the right through 
fields, and formed in a line running from Allen's house toward the Schuyl- 
kill ; our left about two hundred yards from the house. Soon after being 
formed, we had orders to move on, and advance through a field to the en- 
campment of the British light infantry in an orchard, wdiere we found them 



MOUNT AIRY. 385 

formed to receive us. A close and sharp action commenced, and continued 
fifteen or twentj'^ minutes, when the British broke and retreated. In one regi- 
ment four officers aud upwards of thirty men were wounded ; and to the best 
of my recollection several men were killed. In the advance we had inclined 
to the left, until we reached the road ; and in the action one company, com- 
manded by Captain Daniel Dorsey, crossed the road. It is certain that no 
other part of the army was up with us at that time. 

" Colonel Hall who was on foot, ordered me to bring up the company that 
had crossed the road ; but finding them engaged from behind houses with 
some of the enemy, whom I supposed had belonged to the picket, I judged it 
not proper to call them off, as it would expose our flank. I reported to 
Colonel Hall who then desired me to let him have my horse, and said he 
would bring them up himself. Riding one way, and I looking another, the 
horse ran with him under a cider-press, and he was so hurt that he was taken 
from the field. I was then left in command of the regiment, as Lieutenant 
Colonel Smith some time before had' been detached to Fort Mifflin. The 
enemy by this time had given way, and I pushed on through their encamp- 
ment, their tents standing, and in the road, before we came opposite to Chew's 
House, took two six-pounders, which I supposed were those that had been 
with the picket ; but as the drag-ropes had been cut and taken away, we could 
do nothing with them." 

General Sullivan wrote to Meshech Weare, President of New Hampshire, 
from the camp at Whitemarsh, on October 25, 1777, that the right wing of the 
American Army reached Chestnut Hill at break of day, and a regiment of 
Conway's Brigade, and one from the Second Maryland Brigade, were sent to 
Mount Airy to attack the pickets at Allen's house. Sullivan's Division 
followed Conway's, and Wayne's Division brought up the rear. The picket 
wheu attacked was reinforced by the light infantry. General Conway en- 
deavored to repulse the brave infantry, who stood their ground, and Sullivan 
aided him. The English strove to flank the Americans. Sullivan ordered 
Ford's regiment to repulse them. Wayne's Division was formed on the east 
side of the. road to attack the right of the enemy. There were various 
manoeuvers in the perplexing fog. Fence walls and ditches gave the English 
a chance to stand, and the Americans were detained in tearing down fences. 
Cannon balls and bayonets were in aftertimes dug up in this section. Major 
Morris, the aid-de-camp of Sullivan, was ordered by his General to inform 
Washington when the British left wing gave way, and request his Excellency 
to order Wayne to advance against the right of the English force. Washing- 
ton ordered Wayne to advance, which he did rapidly with his brave men to 
Germantown. (Sparks's Washington, Vol. Y, pp. 464-5.) 

I would add that at a house on the lower side of Cresheim creek was the 
American outpost at the battle of Germantown. The British were where a 
spring-house now stands, and where a log cabin originally stood. The British 
fired on the morning of the battle, and a picket wounded a civilian leaning 



386 MOUNT AIRY. 

against a tree. This was the first shot of the battle, and after it the British 
retreated towards Germantown. 

THE ALLENS. 

A short account of Chief Justice Allen and his sons may be found in 
Sabine's American Loyalists. 

Trout Hall heretofore mentioned on the site of Allentown, was built " before 
1755, as it is marked ' William Allen's House ' on a draft of the road from 
Easton to Reading drawn that year." (Davis's History of Bucks County, 
p. 595.) " What remains of the old Hall is incorporated with the buildings 
of Muhlenberg College." lb. Fort Allen built of logs, was on the site of 
Allentown, which has been named in connection with Judge Allen. Before 
the Revolution it saw the courage of Col. James Burd, in Indian wars. In the 
Revolution the bells of Christ Church, Philadelphia, were concealed in Allen- 
town and there John Fries stirred up the " Northampton Insurrection." — (See 
Watson's Annals, Vol. II, pp. 149, 180 and 206.) 

The main street of the town runs over the place where the fort stood. The 
fort was once taken by surprise by the Indians, while the garrison were skating 
on the Lehigh river. 

Allen's lane took its name from Judge Allen, who owned property on the 
upper side of it. A depot on the Pennsylvania Railroad perpetuates the 
name. The Judge, who was quite wealthy, gave the ground where the first 
school house was built on that lane. The building was erected by the 
public, but it was a pay school, as it was before the day of free schools. 
William Kulp, Jacob Bockius and Mr. Thomas were teachers. I am indebted 
to the memory of John Bishop, an old pupil, for these notes. An old house 
of the Livezey family, at the end of Allen's lane on the creek, has a Revolu- 
tionary history. 

In Watson's Annals (Vol. II, p. 71), we find from .John Miller's diary, that 
on June 10, 1778, the British " came up again by different routes and joined 
forces at Allen's lane (now Mt. Airy), and returned before nine o'clock in the 
morning — effecting nothing but the plundering of gardens, etc.'' On June 
13th they marched to Mt. Airy for the last time. So for months after the battle 
this country district was unquiet. 

Allen township, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, is named for Chief 
Justice Allen. There is also an East Allen township. See Dr. W. H. Egle's 
History of Pennsylvania, also Hotchkin's Pocket Gazetteer of Pennsylvauia, 
pp. 132-3. 

THE LOVETT FREE LIBRARY. 

Mrs. Charlotte Bostwick has given |25,000 to endow a free library at Mt. 
Airy. She also bought the ground, built the library building and has put it 
in charge of a board of managers. Her rector. Rev. Simeon C. Hill, is the 



MOUNT AIRY. 387 

president of the board. He is in charge of Grace Episcopal Church, Mount 
Airy, and has given me some particulars as to the library, which I will add 
to this notice. 

The Memorial Free Library is at the corner of Main street and >Sedgwick, 
and is a memorial of Mr. Thomas R. Lovett, erected 1887. It is a stone 
l)uilding. The lot is 100 x 115 — all donated by Mrs. Bostwick, a sister of 
T. R. Lovett. It is on a part of the ten-acre lot. The library was started in 
Grace Church and had a room 12x12 for two years. The ladies' offered their 
services for libi-arians. We have two thousand and one hundred books ; seven 
thousand books were taken out during the year. 

The houses being built on Mt. Pleasent avenue are constructed by Mr. 
Ashton Tourison, architect and builder. 

The improvements in Mt. Airy began about three years ago. Gowen avenue 
was macadamized two or three years ago; the other streets are not paved. 

The station houses at Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Airy are about four years old, 
mostly in same place as previous ones, or nearly same location. 

Gowen avenue was formerly called Miller avenue. 

Opposite Grace Episcopal Church, on Mt. Airy avenue, is a large building 
which was erected as a church by the United Brethren, and used by them for 
four or six years. The Presbyterians started a service in the vicinity and the 
building of the United Brethren was sold. ^ 

Francis I. Gowen has a pleasant modern cottage on Gowen avenue, 
of wood and stone. Boyer street contains some nice cottages. Charles S. 
Binney, Esq., resides in one of them, and Mr. Haines occupies another. Mr. 
DeWahle has a modern stone cottage on Gowen avenue, and John Hartman 
a fine brick cottage, and Jordan Roper, Esq., a stone cottage on the same 
avenue. Mr. Roper married a sister of F. B. Gowen, Esq. Messrs. W. H. 
Thorn and Schwatky occupy twin cottages on Gowen avenue. Mr. Bunford 
Samuels is building a new stone house on Gowen avenue. He is connected 
with the Ridgway Library. 

The stone house next but one below the Swan Hotel, on the same side, was 
built b}'' Francis Bockius, who came to this country from Germany. The 
wife was a Miss Miller. The large old stone barn on Gowen avenue, which is 
a striking feature, belonged to the farm. The propertj^ now. belongs to the 
Gowen estate. Mr. Edmund Bockius, son of .John M. Bockius, the eldest son 
of Francis, is a saddler at 5014 Main street, Germantown. In the War of 1812, 
John M. Bockius raised a rifle company of one hundred and twenty men in 
ten days, and went to the rendezvous at Marcus Hook, bat after the defeat of 
the Battle of New Orleans, the British failed to appear. The Captain had a 
harness store at the corner of Manheim and Main streets, Germantown. 



388 MOUNT AIRY. 

As we come to the bridge over Cresheim creek, we meet with the house of 
Mrs. Dunn. Next to this is a new house where the Guyer family reside. 

Just after leaving Mt. Airy station, going toward Chestnut Mill, on the 
Reading Railroad, the traveler may have observed a board-walk on the right 
leading to a retired rustic abode. This is the 

RESIDENCE OF FRANKLIN B. GO WEN, Esq., 

late President of the Reading Railroad, and known as a business man and a 
lawyer in the old world, as well as the new. Here, among the scenes of his 
boyhood, in a pretty English-looking cottage, he finds rest from the city's 
turmoil. The rear of the lawn looks as if it 'might be a country solitude, 
though Gowen avenue in front betokens life and advancement. This place 
bears appropriately the historical name " Ureslieim." , 

On the border of Cresheim creek, on the west side of the turnpike, is a place 
which was formerly' owned by the Riter family, who were old inliabitants. 
The old mansion of stone, near the road, is a story and a half high. The 
Schaeifer family now own the property. Its wooded grounds are a pretty 
feature. Levi Rex married Kate Riter, and the place passed into their 
hands. A later house was built, but the newer one has seen half a century. 

Let us look at the bridge. The modern wall, with its brown stone coping, 
looks too grand for the little simple Cresheim creek, which would prefer the 
wild Indian days to the gay modern life that now drives over it. The old 
stone barn on the upper side is a relief, as it has an antique look. The hills, 
beautifull}^ wooded, rise from the meadow that skirts the stream, while a 
weeping willow finds its home by the bridge. As we look beneath the coping 
of tlie bridge, heated by the sun so as to be warm to the touch, we read in a 
large square brown stone, the figures 1884, and long to see the first rude log 
that spanned the humble stream. Still, the passing water cart is a refresh- 
ment of civilization on this June daj^, and the new days are in some respects 
superior to the old ones. 

THE GOWEN FAMILY. 

James Gowen, the father of James E. Gowen and Franklin B. Gowen, was 
an Irishman, born at Newtownstewart, county Tyrone, Ireland, on the 17th of 
March, A. D. 1790. He was educated at the Academy of Strabane, after 
leaving school was tutor in a private family for two years, and came to 
America on reaching the age of twenty-one years. He entered the counting- 
house of the late Henry Pratt, Philadelphia, and in a short time engaged in 
business as a shipping merchant and made a voyage to Ireland in 1817 in a 
ship of which he was part owner. In 1827 he suffered during the panic then 
prevailing and subsequently engaged in business as a grocer, and afterward 




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MOUNT AIRY. 389 

as a wine merchant, at the corner of Third and Dock streets, and was later 
the senior partner in the firm of Gowen, Jacobs & Co., on Dock street, near 
Third. Mr. Gowen, in 1827, married Marj', daughter of Joseph Miller, of 
Mount Airy (a descendant of Sebastian Miller, whose ancestor cdme to America 
with Pastorius), and subsequently purchased the Miller estate, which still re- 
mains in possession of his family. After his marriage, Mr. Gowen resided on 
Third street, opposite St. Peter's Church ; but in 1834 moved to Mount Airy, 
and took up his residence in the old Miller house which was built in 1792 
and is now occupied by the family of his son, James E. Gowen, deceased. Mr. 
Gowen was a Democrat in politics, but during the United States Bank 
struggles he ran on the Anti-Jackson ticket for Congress in 1828 and 1832, 
and was defeated by the regular Democratic nominee. On one of these 
occasions the names of the four candidates for the four Congressional districts 
of Philadelphia on the same ticket were Watmough, Harper, Ingersoll and 
Gowen, the initials spelling W H I G. Mr. Gow^en retired from business 
in middle life, and became a well-known agriculturist. He was the first to 
import a herd of blooded cattle, and his well-known Durham stock was for 
many years celebrated over the United States, and his spring sales of blooded 
cattle attracted to Mount Airy a concourse of cattle breeders and agriculturists 
from many States. Mr. Gowen was instrumental in organizing the Pennsyl- 
vania Agricultural Society, and was second president of the association. He 
wrote much upon scientific agriculture and delivered many addresses upon 
this and other kindred subjects. Before moving to Mount Airy he took an 
active part in all the business and social affairs of his adopted city. He was 
a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, South Third street, a member of 
Councils, a Director of the Bank of Pennsylvania, and a prominent member 
of St. Patrick and other institutions for the amelioration of the condition of 
his fellow countrymen, the Irish, to whom he was always warmly attached, 
and many of whom he aided by his means and counsel. He died at his resi- 
dence " Magnolia "\''illa " at Mount Airy on the 8th of January, 1873, in the 
83d year of his age, and is buried at St. Luke's Graveyard, Germantown, 
which Church he had attended for many j'ears, the old rector, Rev. John 
Rodney, having been an intimate personal friend of his before Mr. Rodney 
came to Germantown. 

" In 1848, James Gowen, a noted Philadelphia agriculturist, established a 
school for practical farmers, at Mount Airy, Germantown. A farm was culti- 
vated in connection with the school. The institution w^as successfully con- 
ducted for several years.": — Wickersham's History of Education in Pennsyl- 
vania, p. 432. The Agricultural State College followed in a few years. The 
Mount Airy School began in April, 1848, and continued for five years. 

James E. Gowen, son of the above, was born in South Third street, Phila- 
delphia, on the 3d of February, A. D. 1830. He was educated, and graduated 
with high honors, at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Maryland, 
taking the degrees of A. B., and afterward A. M., and later in life was made 



390 MOUNT AIRY. 

LL. D., by the same institution. He studied law with the late John M. Scott 
of Philadelphia, and was called to the bar when 21 years of age. He was for 
many years the law partner of the late St. George T. Campbell, and had a 
large and lucrative practice, principally in equity and corporation cases. He 
died February 16, 1885, and is buried at St. Luke's Churchyard, Germantown. 
He was of great learning in and out of his profession, of studious and retiring 
disposition, warmly attached to his profession and was, at the time of his 
death, not only one of the most learned members of the bar of Philadelphia, 
but universally respected and beloved b}' the entire profession. This promi- 
nent and brilliant lawyer died at the Miller homestead in Mount Airy, in the 
56th year of his age. 

The old GowEN or Miller Homestead, a view of which, by the courtesy 
of F. B. Gowen, Esq., has appeared in these articles, was occupied as an 
Agricultural College, under the charge of John Wilkinson, from 1848 to 1853. 

In the Rev. J. F. Dripp's sketch of the First Presbyterian Church in German- 
town, Mr. B. F. Gowen contributes the following note about his grandfather : 
" Mr. Joseph Miller, my maternal grandfather, was born at .Mount Airy, in the 
upper part of Germantown, on January 26th, 1757, and died at Mount Airy, 
March 27th, 1825. He married Susanna Raser, who was born January 12, 
1767, and who long survived him, dying in Philadelphia, September 23, 1853. 
In 1792, he built the stone house at Mount Airy, in which he subsequently 
lived and died, in which my mother and myself were born, in which I recently 
lived, and which is now occiipied by my brother, Mr. James E. Gowen." 

Mr. Miller's father wrote his name Sebastian Miiller, in German fashion. His 
marriage record is dated April 10th, 1754.— The marriage took place in Ger- 
mantown. Mr. Dripps states that the family was one of the oldest connected 
with the German Reformed Congregation, and that Mr. Miller was prominent 
in the community. He very reluctantly left the old church, when he felt that 
the necessities of his children and other youth for English religious services 
compelled his action, " as a chief founder of the new organization." Rev. Dr. 
Blair and Mr. Miller made the agreement for an organ of fourteen stops, to 
cost $1200, to be completed within a year, by Alexander Schlotman. Mr. Miller 
added to other duties that of organist of the new church for many years (p. 
19). Mr. Miller was a great pedestrian, and a friend of the family informs me 
that he walked once from his own house to Norristown and back in the morn- 
ing, and the same afternoon into the city and back. 

I am indebted to Mr. Charles Miller, a son of Joseph Miller, who resides on 
Gowen avenue, for local information. He is over eighty years of age. An old 
cherry tree still stands in a field opposite his house from which he plucked 
cherries when almost an infant. . When I saw the old tree its top was wearing 
away, but many blossoms still adorned it, and gave promise of coming fruit. 
Mr. Miller's son. Rev. Joseph L. Miller, is assistant minister at St. Stephen's 
Episcopal Church on Tenth street. 



MOUNT AIRY. 393 

Mr. James Gowen's will, in a printed pamphlet, shows that he styled himself 
in that document, " formerly merchant, now farmer." He calls his mansion 
" Magnolia Villa." 

Modern Mt. Airy looks at the reader prosperously as he glances over The 
Country House, of November '85, published by Howard M. Jenkins, and sees the 
last page entirely devoted to displaying the natural and artificial advantages 
of the Gowen estate for residences, while telegraphs and cheap fare make it a 
desirable suburb. A ji'ellow colored, pamphlet in my hand, with its account of 
a Telford road, among the old houses and their newer cousins, and the ancient 
and modern trees make a fine showing for antique Gresheim, modernized 
beyond its expectation. 

Gresheim creek and Gresheim road, however, still keep up the association 
with Germany, and in the modern rage for change may their names be allowed 
to stand as monuments of two past centuries. Through the ancient German 
township, as the tract was called, still runs faithful Germantown avenue 
formerly known as " The King's Highway," or " Plymouth and North Wales 
Great Road." It has uncomplainingly borne the tread of provincials and the 
citizens of a modern republic, and cart and carriage are alike welcome to it. 
The Mermaid Hotel is one of the oldest in the country. It is of stone, stand- 
ing a little in the rear of the pike on the east side just above Gresheim creek. 
A branch of Gresheim creek formerly ran near the hotel, and a pond was made 
there which was used for baptizing by immersion. Many years ago Mr. 
"Webker was host here. In those days there were turkey-shooting matches. 
Martin Painter was another landlord who held the post for many years. Messrs. 
Beans, Hinkle and Glark were subsequent landlords. James Kershaw, the 
present owner, is the successor of Mr. Clark. At one time prize-fighters were 
trained here, but fortunately those days have departed. 

MERMAIDS. ■ 

The " History of Sign Boards," by Jacob Larwood and John Camden Hotten 
observes that Shakespeare and Ben. Jonson notice this sign. Hollinshed 
gives an account of a merman caught in King .John's day. Gervase of 
Tilbury, said that mermen and mermaids lived in the British ocean. The mer- 
maids were sometimes exhibited, whatever they were. The sea-serpents are 
their rivals. In 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh established a literarj' club at the 
Mermaid tavern, in Bread street, London, thought to be doubtless the first in 
England. Shakespeare, Ben. Jonson, Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Carew, 
Martin, Donne and Cotton were members. Beaumont writes to Ben. Jonson 
poetically : 

" What things have we seen 
Done at the Mermaid ! " 

Adding an account of the wit that sparkled there. 



394 MOUNT AIRY. 

There was another Mermaid in Cheapside. The sign was used by printers. 
•John Rastall, brother-in-law of Sir Thomas More, "emprynted in the Cheape- 
syde at the sygne of the Meremayde, next to Poutysgate in 1527." 

" In 1576 a translation of the " History of Lazarillo de Tonnes, dedicated to 
Sir Thomas Gresham," was printed by Henry Binneman, the Queen's printer, 
in Knightrider street, at the sign of the Mermaid. A representation of this 
fabulous creature was generally prefixed to his books." 

There was a carriers' inn in Carter lane, in 1681, called the Mermaid. One 
of the London mermaids could hardly have swum over to Philadelphia. If a 
London mermaid came to give name to this hotel she must have taken the old 
long route down the Thames, across sea to the Delaware river, up that river to 
the Schuylkill, and Wissahickon and Cresheim creeks. Her name at least 
abides. Mermen first grew scarce and mermaids are also vanishing, but read 
the following from a newspaper : 

Merry Maiden and the Tar. — If any one doubts the existence of mer- 
maids the fishermen of Cape Breton do not, for one was seen there the other 
day. The North Sydney Herald reports that while Mr. Bagnall and several 
fishermen were out in a boat they saw floating on the water what they thought 
was a corpse. They approached for the purpose of taking it ashore for burial, 
when, to their great surprise, it turned around to a sitting jaosition and looked 
toward them, and disappeared. A few moments after it appeared to the surface 
and again looked toward them, after which it disappeared altogether. The face, 
head, shoulders, and arms resembled those of a human being, but the lower 
extremities had the appearance of a fish. The back of its head was covered 
with long, dark hair resembling a horse's mane. The arms were exactly 
shaped like those of a human being, excepting that the fingers were very long. 
The color of tlie skin was not unlike that of a human being. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes pays compliment to the mermaid in the " Ballad of 
the Oyster-man." When the fisherman's daughter swoons and never revives, 
and her lover, who has swum to meet her, in returning, is taken with cramp 
and drowned, jjerishing as did Leander in one of his visits to the lovel}' Hero, 
the poem closes : 

" Bui Fate has metamorphosed them, in pity of their woe, 

And now ihey keep an oyster shop fur mermaids down below." 

The pursuit of mermaid history is however exasperating, as Josiah Allen's wife 
found it to be when her irate husband, hoping to hear one sing, saw a dried 
mummy with horse-hairs pasted on its shell, and, according to the sketch, 
desired to extinguish the mariner who presented the false show at Saratoga. 
She closes her sad experience thus : " Truly, there is something that the boldest 
female pardner dassent do. Mermaids is one of the things I don't dast to 
bring up. No ! no, fur be it from me to say ' mermaid ' to Josiah Allen." A 
vignette of a mermaid on a rock, combing her long locks and holding a harp, 
appropriately ends this chapter of Miss Holly's " Samantha at Saratoga." Mt. 



MOUNT AIRY. 395 

Airy people do not fear a mermaid, for a pretty station-house on the Reading 
Railroad and an avenue bear the name. 

GLEN FERN AND THE LIVEZEY FAMILY. 

At the foot of Allen's lane, on the Wissahickon creek, lies the old mansion 
of the Livezey family, styled " Glen Fern " It is a fine relic of the past and 
deserves better care than it has received since it became a part of the Park. 
The ancient stone house no doubt felt very grand when it was first built, and 
its old age should be rendered at least respectable. It is a fine specimen of the 
antique American farm house. The main part of the building is two stories 
in height, and a dormer window surmounts its roof. Two attic windows look 
beuignantly from the gable over the lower section of the house. One chimney 
rises from the rear of the roof, while another stands between the mansion and 
its adjunct, and a third is seen on the lowest extension. The main house has 
a porch. The dwelling has three parts, rising in grades, like steps, from the 
ground. The second elevation has an attic and another dormer window, while 
the third and lowest section modestly refrains from such an adornment. Each 
part boasts its own front door, so that, as in the adobe houses in New Mexico, 
one may go in or out one portion of the house without disturbing a person in 
another portion. A stone wall guards the property in front. The old trees 
stand as sentinels on the hill in the rear, and under the winter snow, or in the 
summer sun, present a pretty sight to the beholder. The building has been 
photographed in winter with good effect. I am indebted to Mr. John Livezey, 
of Mount Airy, for valuable information in regard to those who dwelt in this 
historic mansion in past daj's. 

There are a quantity of family papers in the possession of the family. While 
the family name is sometimes pronounced differently, the above is the old way 
of spelling it. The Livezeys belonged to the Society of Friends. The will of 
Thomas is dated 1695. He was the first purchaser of five hundred acres of 
land from William Penn. The will of his son, and that of his only grandson, 
Thomas, as well as the wills of others, are in the hands of Mr. John Livezey. 
The grandfather of John Livezey was a flour merchant and ran flour mills. 
He was also an importer. One invoice, dated about 1800, shows that he sent 
four thousand Spanish dollars on the ship Pacific, bound for Canton, for china, 
silk and tea. The tea was for private use, and to be packed in small packages, 
as directed. There is still a large hall-clock in the family, which was mentioned 
in the first will, and has been handed down by will to the present generation. 
It still runs and keeps good time, though the winter affects it and makes it 
strike as if it had a bad cold. 

Several casks of wine were buried in the Wissahickon creek at the old Live- 
zey house. Mr. John Livezey writes me that his father had some of this ancient 
wine, which was left him by his father. Mr. .John Livezey's father died in his 
85th year. The wine was placed under water to keep it from the British in 
Revolutionary days. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 



Chestnut Hill. 



Summerhausen, from the German (Summerhouses), was the native place of 
Pastorius ; as it was the old name of Chestnut Hill, it should be perpetuated in 
some new avenue which may be formed. Summerhausen, a village in 
Bavaria, in Lower Franconia, on the right bank of the Main, S. E. of Wurz- 
burg. Population 1229, Lippincott's Gazetteer of 1866. Cresheim holds its 
own, and the other relics of German history should be preserved. Crefeld, 
which was the German name of the section above Chestnut Hill, should also 
give name to an avenue in that section which is being laid out and improved. 
Chestnut Hill was so named from the abundance of chestnut timber. The 
Germans called it Chestnut Barracks. In treating Chestnut Hill we desire to 
give everything interesting which meets us, whether it be ancient or modern. 
In George Greeve's translation of De Chasteleux's " Travels in North America," 
Vol. I, p. 291, it is written of this place : " It is called Chestnut Hill, from a 
little church of that name, situated on its summit." The writer speaks of the 
two hills and the encampment of the army, so he refers probably to the St. 
Thomas's church, at White Marsh, but is mistaken as to the origin of the name. 
About 1780 deeds note this place as " Chestnut Hill." 

When good Mrs. Lydia Darrach, the wife of the Philadelphia teacher, 
William Darrach, by her information started Colonel Craig on his ride from 
Frankford to Whitemarsh, to warn AVashington that the British had planned 
to attack him secretly did the Colonel rush along this Germantown road, where 
the carriages and wagons now pass so peacefully ? A little glance at those days 
may well introduce the history of this section. 

Washington on the 10th of December, 1777, writes from the Whitemarsh 
Camp to the President of Congress that on the preceding week General Howe 
had left Philadelphia with a force at night and the next morning had reached 
Chestnut Hill. In a skirmish the American General Irvine was wounded and 
captured. On a later day Colonel Morgan and his corps, and the Maryland 
militia under Colonel Gist, attacked the British force. The next day the 
English retreated to Philadelphia. Major Morris, who is styled by Washing- 
ton "a brave and gallant officer," was wounded during this expedition. 
(Sparks's Washington, Vol. 5, pp. 180-1.) 

General Washington writes Richard Henry Lee, from Valley Forge, on 
February 15th, A. D. 1778 : " Lord Cornwallis has certainly embarked for 
England, but with what view is not so easy to determine. He was an eyewit- 
ness a few days before his departure to a scene, not a little disgraceful to the 

(399) 



400 CHESTNUT HILL. 

pride of British valor, in their manoeuvre to Chestnut Hill, and precipitate 
return, after boasting their intentions of driving us beyond the mountains." 
(Sparks's Washington, Vol. 5, p. 238.) 

The geology of this region is described as follows : " Rock-faced bluffs are 
found at Chestnut Hill, four hundred feet above tide-water mark." (Beau's 
History of Montgomery County, p. 3.) " The northwestern slope of these hills 
descends to the basin of the Plymouth valley, through which runs a belt of 
limestone, some two miles in width, with rich beds of hematite iron ore, white 
and blue marble, limestone, soapstone, and large masses of gray rock, easily 
quarried and largely used in heavy masonry. This limestone belt crosses the 
Schuylkill river between Conshohocken and Swedes' Ford and extends in a 
westerly direction to Howeltown, in the Schuylkill A^alleJ^ The soil of this 
locality is very productive, aud is considered by many the most valuable in the 
county for agricultural purposes." (Bean's History of Montgomery County, 
p. 3.) 

I subjoin a touch of legendary love, which Judge Samuel W. Pennypacker, 
informs me that he furnished to Townsend Ward, and which I found among 
Mr. Ward's manuscript notes in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's 
Library. 

It is from a German book, entitled (Erschsinungen der Gester) " The appear- 
ance of Spirits." Mr. Pennypacker translated this storj'. 

" Many years ago, the still living Christian Gunti was traveling along the 
road leading out of Germantown over Chestnut Hill, and he saw two Indians 
approaching. Since the sun had already gone down, he could not determine 
whether they were men or women, but still he saw that they had angry faces. 
The one took the other by the neck and choked him, threw him down on the 
ground, knelt upon him, and choked him standing on his throat. Meanwhile 
Christian Gunti approached (he cared less for the dead than the living, and 
saw such evil spirits wherever they were, so that such things were not new to 
him) and when he came near and looked at them, he knew that he could be 
of no assistance. After he had watched them awhile they both disappeared. 
Some time after that he had to help repair the road, and when they came to 
this place, a neighbor said, " Here once an Indian beat his wife to death." 
Christian Gunti answered, " I don't believe that he beat her, he choked her." 

The writer will be deeply obliged to any one who may have any historical 
knowledge or any collection of newspaper clippings or other matter concerning 
Chestnut Hill, if he will communicate with him, and, if so disposed, add his 
store to the common heap which may thus accumulate, as the word indicates, 
cumulus, in Latin, meaning a heap. Thus did Mr. Pennj-packer aid his friend 
Ward in the preceding note. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 401 

WISSAHICKON INN. 

James M. Aiman, Sr., of Springfield avenue, kindly gives me information 
with regard to the neighborhood of the Wissahickon Inn. The Wissahickon 
Inn is on the site of the old Park House, which was burned on the 29th of 
March, A. D. 1877. The building was burned at night. It was empty at the 
time, and was left vacant during the winter season. 

The Park Hotel was built in 1863. Previous to this there had been a small 
hotel at this point kept by Reuben Sands, of Indian Rock, now deceased. The 
new hotel was added to this building. When the Chestnut Hill Hospital was 
sold a part of the material was purchased and used in constructing the Park 
Hotel, which contained about ninety rooms. It was a summer boarding house 
kept by Mrs. Mary Andrew, at the time of the burning. Mrs. Field had had 
charge of it before 1872 for several years. George W. Hill, of Philadelphia, 
owned the hotel. After the fire Mr. H. H Houston bought the property, which 
embraced 23f acres of land, and included the cricket ground, lawn, play- 
ground and drive. The drive on. which St. Martin's in-the-Fields is to be con- 
structed belonged to Hiram Hartwell, and was sold by him to Mr. Houston. 
Joseph Casper Weiss owned the land where the Wissahickon station now 
stauds. Mr. Weiss lives on Germantown road, above Mermaid lane. 

The plastered stone house, owned and occupied by James M. Aiman, Sr., on 
Springfield avenue, was formerly the property of the Streeper family. . John 
Streeper, who has been dead for several years, was born here. The house must 
be eighty or more years old. One of the old deeds recites that it once belonged 
to a spinster, using the word which indicated that maiden women spun when 
the word was coined, as the similar word in Webster means a weaver. The 
old Cresheira road runs from the front of this house, on Springfield avenue, to 
Carpenter's lane, in Germantown, where it ends. The distance is under two 
miles. France's Mill lies on this road. His dam has lately been named Lake 
Surprise, and the Wissahickon guests use it for boating. Mr. Houston has 
deepened and improved it. In winter it is a skating-ground. The old stone 
house is now a children's home. 

On a lane, or a blind road without an outlet at the farther end among the 
hills and rocks, lies Hill's Mill, which was formerly a woolen mill, and now is 
being turned into a paper mill. This is a part of Mr. Houston's property. 
Some old houses still lie along the road. Near Carpenter's lane was the place 
of William Bohlen, which is now in the hands of Mr. Houston. 

Mr. George Rahn lived at the southwest corner of Cresheim road and the 
lane leading to Hill's Mill. He died several years ago. He was a man of 
influence in the neighborhood, and was a highly esteemed member of the Dem- 
ocratic party. He was quite intelligent and a leader. 

Watson, in his " Annals," Vol. II, p. 18, says : " All the settlers in Cres- 
heim built on the Cresheim road before settling a house on the Germantown 
road through Cresheim. There is an old map, made in 1700, in which all 



402 CHESTNUT HILL. 

their residences and barns at that time are marked." So this is the mother 
settlement here, and is interesting on that account to the antiquary. 

Some pretty modern stone cottages meet the pedestrian as he enters Cres- 
heim road. While the earliest settlers are said to have selected this old high- 
way for their homes they erected simpler dwellings. A child's tent and drum, 
in the rear of the first cottage on the right may remind us of Revolutionary 
days. Beyond the cottages, a neat white house, standing back from the road, 
contrasts prettily with the green trees in front of it, and has a cool look on 
warm days. A ha-ha wall is in front, and a wall at the side of the footway 
bounds the road, stone steps are in front while a street lamp opposite would 
have astonished the old Cresheimers. 

An old-fashioned, ample plastered house is on the other side of the road, 
almost opposite. On the right more modern stone cottages crowd the country 
district along the railway. France's Mill is.three stories in height with an attic 
with dormer windows. It looks very lonesome, and as if it longed to hear 
again the busy noises and cheerful voices which waked the echoes in the past. 

The road descends rapidly here amidst striking scenery, and runs under one 
of the fine bridges of the Pennsylvania Railway. Two trains have passed 
diverse ways almost over my head, as I' write these lines, indicating how 
modern civilization crowds on antique life. A number of small houses are in 
blocks on the left and have apparently stood for some time. 

A deep spring, with a well-like wall, is a pretty feature on the right. An 
old square tower of a spring-house, looking like a mimic foreign castle, stands 
near the spring. 

On the opposite side of the road an old boiler pipe has been utilized to 
throw the sparkling water on the rocks below, and in continuous flow it keeps 
up a constant pleasant sound. Near by is Hayes's picker house, used for pre- 
paring carjDet yarn. It is a new building. The old grist-mill called Hinkle's 
mill, described heretofore in these articles, stood in front of it. That mill was 
burned and its walls.were taken down to make room for the railway, except 
the upper wall, which was left standing. Hayes's mill proper is near Ger- 
mantown road, above the jjicker house at Hinkle's mill. Mr. David Hayes 
lives in Gerraantown. He owns this property. This mill and that on the 
Cresheim road belonged to the France family. Two brothers, John and 
Ervine France, built the mill on Cresheim road after selling the other one. 

The woods and rocks back of Hayes's mill are pretty, and a low house in 
the rear of the mill has an English look. A wheel hanging on the wall 
added to the picturesqueness of the s-cene. Mr. Hayes has a stone quarry near 
Germantown avenue, just above Cresheim creek. 

Daniel Thomas had a grist-mill on the Wissahickon, not far from Wissahickon 
Inn. Mr. Megargee made a paper mill of this property. Mr. Thomas's son 
was drowned in early manhood, and the mother, then a widow, soon moved 
to Philadelphia, and the property passed out of the hands of the family. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 403 

This magnificent and pleasant summer resort occupies a high position near 
the Pennsylvania Railroad. A continuous wood runs from the rear of the Inn 
to the romantic Wissahickon, so that children can find places for recreation 
close at hand, and adults can lose themselves among the wild beauties of 
nature within a few minutes' ride of the teeming and busy city. The erection 
of this splendid building was one of the efforts which have been made of late 
to give citizens and their families places of recreation and refreshment near 
the town. The Devon Inn on the main line of the Pennsjdvania Railroad, is 
another instance of this kind of commendable enterprise. The Wissahickon 
Inn stands on the site of the old Park Hotel, which was burned. There was 
a race-course near by. The new building was finished on the 30th of May, 
A. D. 1884. It is constructed of stone and tile. It contains about two hun- 
dred and fifty rooms. William C. Mackie, of Chestnut Hill, was the contrac- 
tor, and G. W. and W. D. He.witt were the architects. The porte cochere and 
piazzas give a pleasant look to the exterior. The high position makes the 
building visible at a distance. Mr. H. H. Houston, who owns the Wissahic- 
kon Inn, is building many fine houses in this vicinity. The cricket ground, 
with its high brown fence, is near the Inn. 

The Devil's Pool, a little way from the Wissahickon Inn, was the scene of 
an. engagement in the battle of Germantown. See Charles S. Keyser's " Fair- 
mount Park," p. 108. It is narrated that in 1776, when the soldiers left 
Roxboi'ough, at the branch running into the Devil's Pool, the}' separated 
from their w4ves and sisters and fathers and mothers, and kneeling on the 
rocks the old men commended their beloved to God in prayer. It was such 
Christian faith and trust that gave power to the American Revolution, and 
this place is hallowed by such a remembrance. Mr. Keyser says that in 
provincial times the superstitious sought this spot, while now ai'tists and lovers 
of nature resort to it. He adds : " It is certainly a wild place ; rocks are 
thrown together in great masses, and the long trunks of hemlocks and pines 
jut up from the darkness around the pool into the sunshine above." 

A tributarj' of the Wissahickon creek feeds this pool, the depth of which 
stirred superstitious minds to give it its name. It was also, however, called 
the Hermit's Pool. Its picture may be seen in art galleries. The word Devil 
should be avoided in naming places. Kentucky has a post office called Devil's 
Creek, and Dakota one styled Devil's Lake. The Hermit's Pool gives a thought 
of the interesting and romantic story of the hermits of the Wissahickon, and 
is a better appellation than the Devil's Pool. In W. M. Praed's poem, " The 
Red Fisherman," w-e see the unpleasant effect of an evil name : 

" And bold was he who thither came, 

At midnight, man or boy ; 
For the place was cursed with an evil name, 

And that name was ' The Devil's Decoy ! ' " 

The fearful sights which the ballad represents as passing before the eyes of 
the Abbot as the Devil fishes his victims from the pool ju.stify the name, and 
it is a relief to hear the close, beginning : 



404 CHESTNUT HILL. 

" Oh ho ! on ho ! 

The cock doth crow ; 

It is time for the Fisher to rise and go." 

So the keys turn, the locks creak, and the Red Fisherman stalks away with his 
iron box with its strange bait. 

YEAKEL COTTAGE. 

The Yeakel Cottage is one of the greatest antiquities on the Germantown 
road. It is at the upper corner of Mermaid lane and Germantown road. It 
is one of the few log-houses remaining in this region. It is one-story in height, 
but is cosy within and has a pleasant attic. It feels its years and needs repair, 
but it has done its work bravely for a generation. Its steep roof is broken by 
a chimney in the middle. The eave juts over the front door. Some friendly 
trees in front protect their ancient friend. The two on Mermaid avenue stand 
like Baucis and Philemon of mythological story. A little addition has been 
made to the upper side of the house. The gable end is on Germantown avenue. 
The Mermaid Hotel stands on the lower side, back from the street. Its white 
front contrasts prettil}' with the two guardian trees which stand before it clad 
in their summer verdure. 

Israel Gilbert, the father of Dr. F. C. Gilbert, the well-known practitioner 
of Chestnut Hill, lived for several years in the house now owned and occupied 
by Mrs. Quigg, on Main street, above Springfield avenue, on the west side. 
This old stone house was built by Wickard Miller in the 18th century, before 
the turnpike was made. Mr. Gilbert kept a store in a building adjoining this 
house, which has been removed, and a piazza has taken its place. After 
giving up merchandise, he was Justice of the Peace, and this building was his 
office. He improved the neighborhood by erecting buildings. He was a man 
of influence and standing in the community. He died in this house. His eldest 
son, Jonathan H. Gilbert, M. D., also died here. He had commenced prac- 
ticing medicine at Fox Chase. Another son, Curtis T. Gilbert, removed to 
Virginia. 

Maria A., a daughter, married Rev. R. F. Young, and died in Haddonfield, 
X. J. Her husband was the pastor of the Baptist Church there. There were 
two other daughters, Clementina Murraj^, who resides with Dr. J. C. Gilbert, 
and Dedimia, who married "William D. Miller, a broker of Philadelphia, who 
died several years ago. Dr. Gilbert's father was the very first subscriber on 
the list of the Germantown Telegraph, and was a warm friend of Major 
Freas. The old Gilbert house has a fine large yard on the upper side. The 
lady who now owns it is the mother-in-law of the present Dr. Gilbert, so that it 
is still in the familv. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 405 

HAUNTED HOUSE. 

On Stenton avenue, between Graver's lane and Willow Grove avenue, on 
the east side, stood a stone house belonging to Mr. Koons, who lived in it an'd 
owned it before the Revolution. He owned a tract reaching from that point 
to bej'ond Birch lane. My informant thinks that he was the English Consul. 
Rev. Michael Schlatter, a German Reformed minister, once lived here. • A 
couple once came to be married on horseback, and wrapped the marriage fee 
in a piece of paper, which proved to be one cent instead of a gold piece. Two 
sons of Mr. Schlatter were in the Revolutionai'y army, named Michael and 
Claudius. He afterward owned and lived in the old stone house. He com- 
plained that his house was plundered by British troops. See Scharf & West- 
cott's History of Philadelphia, Vol. I, p. 386. The old building near the 
reservoir was called " the Spook House." It is said that the reputation of 
being haunted was given by those who wished to have privacy in playing 
cards there at night. Spook is a German word, meaning ghost. The spooks 
were said to walk at night in a path which ran around a certain tree. The 
long stone'house presents a gable toward Stenton avenue,* and a front toward 
Bethesda Home. It is two and a half stories in height, with a hipped roof. 
A colored man named Daniel Davis, with his family, were the last occupants. 
The stories of haunted houses are popular and stir the mysterious element in 
man's nature. Thomas Hood describes such a place : 

" O'er all there hung a shadow and a fear, 

A sense of mystery the spirit daunted, 
And said, as plain as whisper in the ear, 

The place is haunted ! " 

While grown people and children alike love such legends, Longfellow, in his 
" Haunted Houses" (Poems, Vol. I, pp. 368-9), indicates that memories of the 
dead hang around all old houses. 

" All houses wherein men have lived and died 

Are haunted houses. Through the open doors 
The harmless phantoms on their errands glide, 

With feet that make no sound upon the floors." 
****** 
" We have no title-deeds to house or lands ; 

Owners and occupants of earlier dates 
From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands, 

And hold in mortmain still their old estates." 

It is said that the ghost of modern writers is more polished than the fantastic 
apparition of former days. See a literary article in the Philadelphia Press, 
June 6, 1888 A. D. 

The first cross street in entering Chestnut Hill from Mt. Airy is Mermaid 
avenue. Next comes Wissahickon, now called Springfield avenue. I believe 
it was first styled Park avenue. It is open only on the west side of Germantown 
road. Hartwell avenue follows; then Southampton, open on the west side 



406 CHESTNUT HILL. 

only. The Lutheran Church is on the south of this avenue. Graver's lane 
succeeds. Then Highland avenue, open on the west side, but about to be cut 
through. Evergreen avenue takes us to the junction of the Bethlehem and 
Reading pikes. 

Enoch Rex, Sr., owned the Haas property, at the northeast corner of Willow 
Grove and Germantown avenues, where are the ruins of the old stone barn 
which belonged to the ancient farm house. The stone house was far in the 
rear of Mr. Walter's present house. The house was demolished, and Anthony 
Groves, Jr., has a dwelling on its site. The farm belonged to Abraham Rex, 
the father of Enoch Rex, Sr. 

Abraham Rex, in Revolutionary times, had a store, lumber-yard and lime- 
yard in Chestnut Hill. Walter Rex informs me that the store was on 
Main street, near Willow Grove avenue, on the east side of the way. The 
dwelling is on the estate of Matthias Haas. The store has departed. The 
burned wall of the barn stands near the location of the store. Abraham Rex 
is spoken of by Watson as the man who introduced clover seed, called in Ger- 
man " Kastanie Hugel." Watson also speaks of Rex's store as one of the old 
important places of trade for farmers when the turnpike was not built, and a 
journey to the city in muddy times was a great task. 

The tower of the Public Buildings, at Broad and Market streets, is visible 
from LTnion avenue, near Germantown avenue. 

Casper Strauss, a policeman, of Highland avenue, has an old map of Chest- 
nut Hill. 

There was an old toll-gate on Main street, at the point where Evergreen 
avenue now joins it, on the east side. It disappeared in 1774. The turnpike 
was then adopted by the citj'. 

On Miss Harriet Benson's property there stood an old stone house which 
was torn down a few years ago. It was on the turnpike, and was anciently 
owned by Rev. Michael Schlatter, who lived in it. 

John Detwiler owned about seventeen acres both sides of Southampton 
avenue. He died sixty-eight years ago in the house of Mrs. Mary Wood, on 
Germantown road, where Mrs. Wood now lives. He was a butcher, and an 
excellent man. .John Detwiler, the father of Mrs. Mary Wood, was for four 
j^ears a soldier in the Revolutionary army. Mrs. AVood has kindly given me 
information concerning this section of Chestnut Hill. The pebble-dashed 
house standing second below Hartwell avenue, on the, west side, was owned in 
olden times by the Peters family. The Detwiler family obtained it by heir- 
ship from that family. Then Henry Hallman became its owner. It now 
belongs to John Hobensack, who was a son-in-law of Mr. Hallman. Ezra 
Sands, who now dwells in it, has occupied it thirty-three years. Ezra Sands, 
Sr., and Eleanor, his wife, the parents of the present occupant, died here. 

The double house nearly opposite was formerly a single dwelling, owned 
bj' Joseph and William Rex, two bachelors. William died first. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 407 

A wheelwright shop stood where the house above, on the same side, is now 
situated. 

The second house below Daniel Kerper's is a double house of wood, plastered 
on the outside. This belonged to the widow of John Rex. It was one house. 
Back of the ruins of the barn was the farm of Enoch Rex, and the barn was 
once included in it. Now the rear is the property of Anthony Groves, and he 
has built a new house on it. 

In this narrative I follow, for the most part, rather the order of persons giv- 
ing information than of jjlace, and different informers give various data as to 
the same places, as a matter of course. 

CHRIST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

Rev. C. J. Hirzel, pastor, is situated at the corner of Main street and South- 
ampton avenue. It is a pretty Gothic stOne building, adorned with growing 
ivy, with a bell-gable, which contains the bell used in the army hospital 
during the last war. It stands back from the street, with a pleasant yard in 
front of it, and gives an attractive picture to the passengers on the Reading 
Railroad. It is in contemplation to erect a stone parsonage in the rear. This 
inission is the outgrowth qf the labors of Rev. Professor Schaeffer, Rev. H. M. 
Bickel and Rev. G. W. Frederick. 

Prof Schaeffer, when pastor of St. Michael's, Germantown, held occasional 
services in the old Union Chapel at Graver's lane and TAventy-seventh street, 
now demolished. The building had been used by various rehgious bodies. 

Under Rev. H. M. Bickel, who was located here as a missionary, an organiza- 
tion was effected on December 9th, A. D. 1860. For a time he conducted the 
services in the Union Chapel, and then, in 1862, removed the services to 
Masonic Hall, nearly opposite the present church. Mr. Heebner, the owner of 
the hall, kindly gave the congregation a free use of it. After Mr. Bickel left 
the parish, the Rev. W. Ashmead Schaeffer, son of Professor Schaeffer, then a 
theological student, continued the work of the Sunday School. Rev. G. W. 
Frederick next took charge of the work. Under his pastorship the church was 
built by his faithful and self-denying personal efforts. Rev. E. T. Horn next 
assumed charge, and found his labor lightened by the church building being 
completed. He carried on well the work so well begun. In July, 1876, Rev. 
C. J. Hirzel, the present pastor, entered on his duties. The good work has 
grown in extent and influence. The indebtedness has been largely decreased 
and the future is promising. 

THE OLD FREE BURYING GROUND. 

On Graver's lane and Bowery avenue is an interesting spot. It was bought 
by subscription. Among the bushes and birds and the weeds and the grass 
lie the old inhabitants and may they lie unmoved as a constant lesson of mor- 



408 CHESTNUT HILL. 

tality to the living. Frederick Detwiler, born in 1789, here rests. Alexander 
Parks, who died in 1864, has on his flat tombstone a tent, cannon and flag 
engraved, and the inscription : " He sleeps his last sleep ; he has fought his 
last battle." Like Napoleon, he is at rest. Modern tombs are mingled with 
the ancient ones. Mrs. Catharine, wife of John Jennings, who died in 1863, is 
shaded by kindly overhanging shrubbery as the sun rests on her grave ; while 
a cedar shades Catharine Antieg's gravestone, who attained to seventy -three 
years. A touching sight is a row of children's graves from " The Sheltering 
Arms." They are now " safe in the arms of Jesus." May their bodies rest 
undisturbed in their little graves till the day of Christ's appearing. 

The Chestnut Hill public school, a fine stone building of two stories, with a 
tin roof, is on the upper side of the graveyard, on Highland avenue. A path 
from Graver's lane runs through the graveyard to it, and the merry children 
who pass along it bring life into the place of death, while workmen have 
another jjath through it. 

Graver's lane was formerly called Jacoby's lane, from Di'. Jacoby, who lives 
on the lane. The name was changed in regard to Mr. Andrew Graver, an old 
resident, who owned much land and lives on the corner of the lane and Main 
street. • 

Chestnut Hill Hotel, owned by Samuel Y. Heebner and -kept by Mrs. Anna 
Gold, is on Main street, near Hartwell avenue, next above the Masonic Hall. 
The building is of stone. It is an ancient structure. It was an old stage 
house. The hotel was owned in olden times b}'' Mr. Graver, Mr. Kline and H. 
Barndt, in succession. Then it came into possession of Charles Heebner. Mr. 
Eshbauch kept it before Mr. James L. Gold became its landlord. Mr. Gold's 
widow still conducts it. The hotel property extended back and included the 
Chestnut Hill Water Works. A brickyard formerly occupied the site of the 
Water Works. 

Hartwell avenue takes its name from Hiram Hartwell, a grocer at Ninth and 
Spring Garden streets, who owned the land cut by the avenue, and a tract 
extending to the Park. He has sold much of this tract to Mr. H. H. Houston. 
Mr. Hartwell owned the AVashington Hotel, in Chestnut street. On account of 
ill health, forty years ago he selected this place as a health-improving location, 
and was greatly benefited, and is now a hale and hearty man. 

DANIEL KERPER'S REMINISCENCES. 

The old-fashioned pebble-dashed house on Main street, below the open field 
near Hartwell avenue, on the west side, is the abode of Daniel Kerper. The 
house is older than the turnpike, which was constructed in 1802. Its solid 
walls and hall-doors have lasted many a year, having been built in 1795. The 
Kerper family are among the oldest settlers of Chestnut Hill. Julius Kerper 
and his wife came to Chestnut Hill from Germany, and about 1763 purchased 



CHESTNUT HILL. 409 

the farm of 125 acres on the west side of Main street, running from Hartwell 
avenue southward to Willow Grove avenue. Daniel Kerper is now aged 83, 
and is a grandson of Julius. Julius had six sons and three daughters, a son 
named Jacob being Daniel's father. The family was long lived. They were 
a toilsome race. Julius Kerper lived in the old stone white farmhouse about 
two squares back of Main street, between Hartwell and Willow Grove avenues. 
Miss Bohien now owns the dwelling, and it is occupied by Italian workmen. 
The Hessians burned a former house, at the battle of Germantown, and Julius 
Kerper rebuilt it. 

Jacob Kerper was fourteen years old at the time of the battle. He used to 
say that the Hessians mistook the standing corn shocks on that foggy morning 
for sturdy American rebels, who could not be moved. Jacob Kerper had traps 
set for muskrats, and going early one morning for his game was seized, and 
held an hour or two as a prisoner. The country suffered under English and 
Hessian raids. 

Wickard Miller owned a large farm below the Kerper estate, on the east sid e 
of Main street. The old stone house occupied by Mrs. Wiley was the old Miller 
mansion. The Miller estate ran to the Wissahickon creek, at Valley Green. 
Next below the Miller farm was that of Cornelius Roop, which spread over 
both sides of the pike, aRid ran to Wissahickon creek. George Roop, the 
husband of Barbara Roop, was a son of Cornelius. The Hinkle family had 
land below the Roop property. Their old stone house stands on the west of the 
pike, near the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

• Hampden Place is a fine old stone mansion on a high bank among trees 
nearly opposite the Lutheran Christ Church, above Southampton avenue. It 
is now the residence of W. H. Johnstone. 

The Kitty Miller house (Wistar's office) was Andrew Artman's house. 

The stone house above the Lentz property was Wickard Jacoby's residence. 

The old stone house on the bank, west side of Main street, first house below 
Southampton avenue, below the open lot, is the property of the Detwiler 
family. It was built about 1800, and about that time the surrounding property 
was divided into large lots and sold to various parties. 

Mr. Daniel Kerper gives the above reliable information. 

The old two-story stone house with dormer windows, on the east side of the 
pike, above Wissahickon avenue, was built by Melchoir Newman about 1812. A 
farm surrounded it. After his death, Matthias Haas bought it, and when he 
. died Dr. Jacoby purchased it. 

On the corner of Wissahickon and Germantown avenues stands an old stone 
house, where years ago the Rev. Dr. Roger Owen and his brother. General 
Joshua T. Owen, conducted the Chestnut Hill Academy. This was a temporary 
undertaking and was employed as a means of establishing the Presbyterian 
Church. Dr. Owen became pastor of that church, and Joshua Owen entered 
the profession of the law, and afterward served his country as a leader in the 
Southern War. The father-in-law of General Owen was Owen Sheridan, 



410 CHESTNUT HILL. 

whose farm and country-seat are on the left of the Pennsylvania Railroad after 
passing Wissahickon station. Mrs. Sheridan owns the property. Mr. H. H. 
Houston has bought part of tlie farm. The Reverend Mr. McGuffin formerly 
owned it. The Union Cliapel in Graver's lane was founded by him. Mr. Barry 
owned the property before Rev. Mr. McGuffin obtained it. The old style man- 
sion is a striking object as seen from the car window. 

The old stone house at the northwest corner of Hartwell avenue and Main 
street was enlarged by Henry Kerper, but built many years before he bought 
it. Mr. John Stallman lived in it before Henry Kerper. Mr. Kerper used to 
walk with his friends to worship at the Market Square Presbyterian Church in 
Germantown, as there was no church in Chestnut Hill. 

JOHN STALLMAN'S REMINISCENCES. 

Mr. Stallman is ninety-six years old, being the oldest resident of the neighbor- 
hood. The Eagle Hotel, on Main street, near Evergreen avenue, used to be 
called Cress's Hotel. It was burned in the Revolutionary War and afterward 
rebuilt. It was utilized by the American soldiers as a hospital before the 
burning. It is no longer a hotel. A part is used as a stove and tin-store. 
Mr. Stallman was a soldier in the War of 1812. One hundred volunteers from 
Chestnut Hill went out for three months, John Huston being captain. They 
went as far as Marcus Hook. All the company are believed to be dead except 
this veteran. 

The house next below the Eagle Hotel, owned by Mr. McCallum, was in the 
possession of the Peters family ; in later years it fell into Mr. Stallman's hands, 
who sold it to Mr. McCallum. 

From Cresheim creek to Bethlehem pike, on Main street, was the oldest part 
of the village of Chestnut Hill. 

Dr. Jacoby's old-fashioned stone house, on its high bank, east side of Main 
street, below Graver's lane, had been in the hands of that family from Mr. 
Stallman's boyhood. Mr. Johnstone now owns it. 

The Cress family owned and occupied the old house just above Mr. Stall- 
man's brick house. 

The old inhabitants were the Cress, Peters, Rex, Graver, Yeakle, Lentz and 
Haas families. 

Mr. Ardman lived where the stone-cutter's yard is. 

Mrs. Uhler's boarding-house belonged to the Lentz family. Is is now the 
property of Mrs. Goodwin, who resides in a house just beyond it on the Beth- 
lehem pike. 

Donat's Hotel is an antique. It is of stone throughout, having some stone 
partitions. A date in a stone in the chimney is 1712. It belonged to the Rex 
family. Levi Rex, and afterward his son George, kept the hotel before Mr. 
Christian Donat's day. Mr. Donat has enlarged it on the lower side. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 411 

In the time of Levi Rex the farm wagons used to be stretched along the 
pike at night. The horses were fed in troughs at the tongue and slept in the 
road, not being blanketed in cold weather. The Eagie Hotel was a stopping 
place of the Broad Axe stages from Montgomery county. Mr. John Stallman 
owned and ran the stages. He has carried over forty passengers in one four- 
horse stage before reaching the city. Broadway busses used to take similar 
loads. 

Donat's Hotel was also at one time a stage stopping-place, where passengers 
from Philadelphia breakfasted, going countryward. 

Mrs. Catharine A. Miller's liouse, opposite the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, 
is an antique one. Mrs. Miller thinks that her grandfather, Martin Ardman, 
built the lower part of this stone house with its half door, occupied by the 
ofl&ces of Dr. Cheston and Wistar & Kerrigan, on the first floor. Martin 
Ardniau came from Germany. The old part of the dwelling is considerably 
over a century old. The elevated part of the house, on the upper side, was 
add'ed by Andrew Ardman, the father of Mrs. Miller. His wife was Sarah 
Edleman, of Chestnut Hill. He was a shoe dealer and lived here many years, 
dying in this house in 1830. His wife died in the old mansion in 1849. Mr. 
Adam Miller died here in 1882. He was one of the first wagoners from Phila- 
delphia to Pittsburgh, New York and Baltimore, when the Conestoga wagon 
took the place of the present freight car. The house is now in possession of 
the third generation. The old well with its windlass has served all these 
generations. Two aged, magnificent pear trees bear it company. 

The next house above, on the same side, now repaired and improved by the 
present owner, Mrs. Wharton, for the occupancy of Dr. Cheston, was formerly 
the property of the Kittinger family. 

The residence of Mrs. Wharton on the corner of Bethlehem and Reading 
pikes, combines an' old portion on the upper side with an addition of a later 
date on the lower side, the whole building being of stone, plastered. The con- 
struction of the upper section shows antiquity, the wooden window casings 
and mantels exhibiting the fine carpenter work of a former day. 

The old stone double house, opposite Donat's Hotel was owned by John 
Peters and fell to his widow. John Stallman owned it for a time. It now 
belongs to Mr. McCallum, of Germantown. 

Tlie Bank of America, next below, was Mr. Jarrat's residence. It is a verj^ 
old house, but has been altered. It became the property of his daughter, and 
is now owned by Andrew Goeser. He occupies the house with the exception 
of the front room, which has lately been taken possession of by a branch of 
the Bank of America, whose location in the city is at the S. W. corner of Fourth 
iind Chestnut streets. Louis E. Pfeiffer is President, and Richard W. Cline, 
Cashier. 

The late Dr. Edward .Jacobj^ informed me that the property on the east side 
of Main street, from Gold's Hotel to Graver's lane and along that lane to the 



412 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Reading Railroad, belonged to the Jacoby and Ottiuger families. The upper 
part of the tract belonged to the Jacoby family, and the lower one to the Ottin- 
gers. The tracts were about equal in extent. Dr. Jacoby's residence on 
Graver's lane is on the Jacoby tract. The stone building, with a wooden house 
adjoining it above and another below was built and occupied by Wickard 
Jacoby, the father of the doctor. He was a carpenter. An old stone building 
near the railroad, on the .Jacoby tract, is considerably over a hundred years 
old. Gold's Hotel, on the Ottinger tract, was there in ancient days, but has 
been altered. It was called Graver's Tavern, being kept by a John Graver. 
Farmers and hucksters on the way to the city spent their nights here. For a 
century it has entertained the wayfarer. The Water "Works and Kerper's coal 
yard are on the Ottinger property. Springs in the meadow furnish the main 
part of the water. When more water is needed the supply comes from Rox- 
borough. About thirty or forty years ago the Water Works were erected. There 
is an old stone quarry on the Jacoby place, where cannon balls fired by the 
British were found. The Ottingers and Jacobys are of German descent. 
William Ottinger was Dr. Jacoby's maternal grandfather. He resided in 
Springfield, Montgomery county, near Chestnut Hill. 

The second house below Willow Grove avenue, being of stone with a porch 
in front, and another at the side, and a stone barn in the rear, was the property 
of Wickard Miller, who owned much land in this vicinity. He was a black- 
smith, and his stone shop stood north of the house, but it has disappeared, 
having vanished about sixty years ago. Melchior Newman bought the place, 
and afterward Matthias Haas purchased it. He was a butcher. Dr. Jacoby 
bought the property from him, and James Ryan now lives on the farm. 

Wickard Miller owned the Gilbert estate and the Wiley estate. His resi- 
dence and shop were on the Wiley place. 

The stone house next above Andrew Graver's is ancient. It belonged to Mrs. 
Sarah Faust, wife of Peter Faust, about sixty years ago. She was the mother 
of Mrs. Jacoby. Christian Dannaker and George Walton were previous suc- 
cessive owners. 

Frederick Sleager owned the property adjoining it above, and Nicholas Uber 
that below, now in the hands of Andrew Graver. 

The Johnstone house was built by Dr. Henry Lentz, who bought of John 
Jacoby. The administrators of Dr. Lentz sold to Mr. Johnstone. 

The old stone house on the bank, being the second house below Graver's 
lane, west side, lately bought by H. H. Houston, was the property of the 
Weyant family. Mr. Weyant was a teamster. David Haas bought it from 
him. He was a stocking weaver, and stockings were woven in the house, as 
was the custom in ancient Germantown. 

The old stone blacksmith •shop below Donat's Hotel, west side, belonged to 
Levi Rex's estate. Christian Donat owns it. John Light was for many years 
the blacksmith. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 413 

The double houses next above the Lutheran Church were built by George 
and Jacob Kerper. George built the upper and Jacob the lower one. 

Mrs. Mary H. Wood's old stone mansion on the bank, nearly opposite Gold's 
Hotel with high stone steps, was built by Mr. Schwenck, who sold it to William 
Ruff, the grandfather of Mrs. Mary Wood, who now dwells here in her nine- 
tieth year. She and her mother were born in this house. Her mother was 
nearly ninety-eight years old at her death. Her mind was clear. She died 
July 11th, A. D. 1864. Mrs. Wood's grandmother, Mary Euff, took her child 
Barbara, to Reading when she was nine years old on account of Revolutionary 
troubles. She was a widow, and British soldiers took her cow, and even the 
flour from her dough trough. The girl remained for years and the mother 
returned. The girl was Mrs. Wood's mother. The people then were accustomed 
to walk from Chestnut Hill to Reading. 

The second house below, of stone, was built in 1744. The date used to be 
over its door. Mr. Schwenck also built this house. He owned the land from 
one house to the other. His daughter Elizabeth heired the upper, and 
another daughter, Anna, the lower place. Elizabeth was the mother of Mrs. 
Wood's father. 

Mrs. Wood's grandmother, Elizabeth Detwiler used to walk from Flourtown 
to the Market Square Presbyterian Church, in Germantown, a distance of five 
miles, when there were muddy roads and the turnpike had not been built. 
This doubled the distance in wet times. 

A. B. Kerper's residence, on the northwest corner of Hartwell avenue and 
Main street, combines an ancient and modern house. 

The pebble-dashed stone house on the west side, below Hartwell avenue, 
was owned by John Peters seventy-five or more years ago. It is now owned 
by Mr. John Hobensack, a storekeeper at Broad Axe, Montgomery county. 

The double house opposite was owned by the Rex family. There was a 
wheelwright shop there which departed over sixty years ago. John Walter's 
tailor shop, near by on the same side, was another property belonging to this 
family, having been owned by Abraham Rex. The lower part is the oldest, 
the upper having been added. A stone wall runs along the front of the 
propert}^ The wall has a picturesque effect. 

The handling of posts and rails was a business of importance in old time 
where hedges and walls and iron railings now rule. Mr. Daniel Kerper 
squared tens of thousands of posts, and made thousands of panels of rail fence. 
Job Walton is said to have split 3600 rails in a week, the logs being cut off 
for him. See History of Byberry and Moreland, by Dr. Joseph C. Martin- 
dale, p. 44. One wonders how many the strong President Lincoln could 
handle in early life. He had harder work to do in his last days. Now the 
wire fence checks this handicraft. 

The figure of the psalm of Asaph (Psalm 74, 5) applies here, as Perowne 
translates it : 

" It seems as though one lifted up on high 
Axes against the thickets of the wood." 



414 CHESTNUT HILL. 

The making of barrels for flour mills ou the Wissahickon was also an im- 
portant industry. The barrels were made at the houses of the mechanics. 
Mr. Kerper was also a cooper. I have lately learned with regret of Mr. Ker- 
per's death.- He gave me much valuable information. 

The stone plastered house at the S. E. corner of Willow Grove avenue and 
Germantown road, owned by Mrs. Robert Wiley and occupied by her, was 
built over forty years ago by Mrs. Charlotte Strows. A house on the lower 
side of the mansion is one hundred and twenty-five years old. It is now used 
as a barn. That building was Wickard Miller's abode. He died sitting in 
the wood fire-place of the house. 

Tlie lot above Willow Grove avenue, with a picturesque ruin of a barn, has 
lately been bought from the heirs of Matthias Haas by H. H. Houston. 

DONAT'S HOTEL. 

The rear part of this building is quaint with its one-story addition, and 
foreign-looking one-story outbuilding with its lean-to. Still farther back is 
the old stone barn with its windows with permanent blinds, and its old barn 
doors with strap iron hinges and the gangway leading up to them. Many a 
load of hay has gone into those doors for several generations of horses. Back 
of Donat's Hotel is the Chestnut Hill sub-station of the Philadelphia Fire 
Department. It is a brick building, plastered. Three horses in fine stalls 
await the call of danger as true philanthrojsists. The stalls are marked with 
certain names, and each new horse takes the name of his stall, which is in 
gilt letters above his head. The stable is in the rear part of the building. In 
the second story of the front portion of the structure is a fine, high-ceiled bed- 
room for the use of the members of the Philadelphia Fire Department. 
P. F. D. is their short title. Six men belong to the station. The building has 
a sitting-room and ofiice. The arrangement is far different from the old 
bucket and hose companies, but the service is more ready and systematic, 
though the personal interest engendered in the old companies was a pleasant 
one, in that they were working voluntarily for the benefit of themselves and 
their neighbors. Still good work is praiseworthy in the present arrangement. 

Next below the old orchard which joins the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot 
is the house of Mr. Charles Still, with its two places of business. It was once 
the property of Jacob Cress, but thb upper addition was made by Mr: Still. 

The stone house on the east side of Main street, at the corner of Hartwell 
avenue, belonged to Henry Cress in Revolutionary days. It was twice 
plundered by the British. Daniel Cress, of North Carolina, son of Henry, was 
the next owner. He willed it to his nephew, Henry Cress, Jr. It has passed 
out of the family, who were old settlers from Germany. 

Dr. William Malin's residence, which is just above Graver's lane, on the 
east side of Main street, belongs to George Cress. It is an old house. Dr. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 415 

Heydrick was a former owner. Mr. Henry Cress bought it of Dr. Heydrick, 
it then became the property of Charles Still, before George Cress obtained it 
by purchase. The Eagle Hotel in yellow fever days was filled with city 
boarders. It was kept by Henry Cress, the second, and owned by Henry 
Cress, the elder. Stages ran from here to the city. 

Mr. Charles Still, a member of the company, states that the Congress Fire 
Company, of Chestnut Hill, was organized in 1816, and incorporated in 1847. 
It was an old-fashioned bucket company. Daniel Snyder, the school-master, 
Hamilton Cress, William Henry Jordan, George Weiss and Jacob Hinkle were 
among the founders. The first engine-house was a one-story frame building 
standing on Main street, on the site of Evergreen avenue, which has been opened 
since the demolition of that structure. The new building was erected about 
twenty years ago. About 1871 the Fire Department of the city took up the work, 
and the old organization is kept up as a social matter, without addition of mem- 
bers ; so that,. like the society of " The Last Man," it must die out. The pres- 
ent officers are: President, Charles C. "Warrel; Treasurer, Alexander Huston ; 
Secretary, Samuel A. Topham. The meetings are held at Gold's Hotel. The 
present engine-house belongs to the estate of William Henry Jordan. 

The Sons of Temperance have a good hall on Highland avenue, on the 
corner of Twenty -seventh street. It is a stone, plastered building of two stories. 
The lower story is composed of two tenement houses. The upper story is used 
by the Knights of Pythias. There are but nine members of the Sons of 
Temperance left, and only occasional meetings are held. Albert B. Kerper is 
Secretary, and George Bessan is Treasurer. The Society was organized about 
1844. 

The following has been contributed : 

Perseverance Lodge, No. 46, K. of P. Instituted February 19, 1868. Samuel 
A. Topham, Thomas B. Rayner, William B. Hart, Charles A. Graver, Jacob 
H. Fisher, Conrade Grebe, Jacob R. Thomas, Samuel K. Kleaver, Thomas H. 
Rinker,, Charles Gorgas. The last three are no longer members (Kleaver, 
Rinker and Gorgas). Present officers: Sitting P. C, H. C. Smith; C. C, 
Justus D. Dickinson ; V. C, J. Elmer Still ; Prelate, Joseph Windolph ; M. at 
Arms, Howard E. Finley ; M. of Ex., George S. Roth ; M. of F., Lewis R. 
Worrell; K. of R. and S., Jacob R. Heitz; Inner Guard, William L. Detwiler; 
Outer Guard, Moses R. Mankin ; Trustees, John H. McBride, Moses R. Mankin, 
Samuel A. Topham ; Representative to Grand Lodge, William B. Hart, since 
1875. Membership 124. A^alue of property about $6300. The Lodge meets 
in Temperance Hall, Highland avenue, on Tuesday evenings. 

FREE MASONS. 

Hiram Lodge, at Chestnut Hill, is one of the oldest lodges in the Slate, 
having been founded in 1800. The lodge used to meet in Johnson's Hall, 
Franklinville. Charles Heebner built the present Masonic Hall, next to 



416 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Gold's Hotel, and rented it to the Masons, who furnished the third story rooms 
about twenty years ago. The Worshipful- Master is William Tomlinson, and 
Charles A. Graver is Senior Warden, and John Robinson, Junior Warden. 
D. Morrell, of Chelten avenue, Germantown, is Secretary. Joshua Cozzens, 
John Sellers and David Cowdeu were early members. 

The Schultz house, in front of the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, and on the 
property which was bought for the station, has an old orchard yet standing 
just below it, which was part of the estate, and indicates a period when land 
was less valuable at Chestnut Hill than it is now. After Mrs. Rebecca 
Schultz's death about six or seven years ago, there was much excitement over 
a vendue which occurred. Such an old place contained an interesting col- 
lection of antiquities. An old clock brought over two hundred dollars, and 
was bought by Charles Yeakle, a descendant of Christopher Yeakle. The 
barn of the Schultz farm stood about where the Depot of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad now stands. British soldiers took b\' force liquor which was stored 
in this place in the Revolution. The old stone barn was pulled down about 
seven or eight years ago. It had served its generation, but Chestnut Hill is 
filling up too rapidly to leave much room for farm barns, and they do not 
suit the new styles of architecture in dwelling and business places. Still the 
contrast tells of old times, and it is pleasant occasionally to see one preserved, 
with its fine grass-grown ascent to the wide barn door, and its chickens and 
other animals collected around it. 

There was an old school-house on Highland avenue where the present 
police station is. Prior to that the Chestnut Hill school-house was at the 
junction of Summit street and the Bethlehem pike, on the lower corner. 

The present Consolidated public school has been under the charge of Mr. 
M. Murray, but lately Mr. H. C. Payne, who was the excellent principal of the 
Fayette Graded Public School at Bustleton, Philadelphia, has been promoted 
to the leadership of the Chestnut Hill School. 

THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD. 

This fine new road was opened on the 11th day of June, 1884 ; on Wednesday 
morning, at 7:20, the first train ran into Philadelphia from Chestnut Hill, 
Harvey J. Smith being conductor. The Philadelphia, Germantown and Chest- 
nut Hill Railroad runs from Chestnut Hill to Germantown Junction, being 
six and six-tenths miles in length. The construction began about two years 
before the opening. In the vicinity of Chestnut Hill the cutting was very 
costly. $2,000,000 was appropriated for the construction of the road, but the 
donations of rights of way reduced this amount to the extent of $500,000, which 
was expended in three months after the opening, on improvements about the 
stations, sodding, sidings, etc. Messrs. H. H. Houston and Henry D. Welsh 
were largely instrumental in the construction of the road. The fine depot 
of stone and brick, with its covered ways of approach, is an ornament to 



CHESTNUT HILL. 417 

the town. This road has developed a fine country which will improve rapidly. 
G. T. DuBois is the present agent, who has given nie this history. The road 
started with five trains a day ; in the second week ten extra trains were added. 
On the 1st of January, 1885, ten more trains were added, and five trains were 
added before December 20th of that year, when two more trains were added, 
making thirty -two daily trains. The cutting for the road is depressed below 
the carriage road, so that passengers descend by covered stairs. The stations 
on this road are well constructed and picturesque. The natural features of 
the country through which it passes are beautiful. A pretty little stream, 
wliich runs along the side of the railway' near Queen Lane Station, German- 
town, protests against being forgotten in the onward rush of civilization. 

Mr. Henry D. Welsh, the President of this Railway, has just erected a fine 
new mansion, with a tower to break its outline at Wissahickon Station. 

If any one can give me information about an ancient place called " De- 
Walden," near Stenton, or places called " Bellan " and " Marks," above 
Germantown, it will be acceptable. Westcott names them. Scrap Book, 
Chapter 126. 

The fine old large yellow, plastered stone house, occupied by Dr. Oliphant, 
next the Presbyterian manse, on the west side of Main street, was for many 
years the country seat of Ambrose White, an eminent Philadelphian. He 
made some alterations in it. Before his day the Rex family owned the 
property. This family owned the site of the Presbyterian Church and manse. 
When Mr. White bought the property, which is about the highest point on 
Chestnut Hill, he found a tradition that " Emlen's Folly " had been located 
on it. Emlen was a sea captain, who loved to look on the sails on the Dela- 
ware, and erected a tower for this purpose, which was given the name 
mentioned. The Delaware sails could also be seen from the tower of the 
Presbyterian Church. The White estate comprises quite an amount of land, 
running from the Presbyterian manse to the Methodist Church Grounds. 

COPE'S GROTTO. 

One of the prettiest features of Chestnut Hill is Mr. Caleb Cope's grotto and 
spring, which he generously throws open to the public. A board walk from 
Rex avenue leads the pedestrian to the stile which is at the head of a sunken 
stone walk to the clear basin of running water, surrounded by bright green 
ferns and overhung by willows, which love " the water courses," as they did 
in the days of the Psalmist. A number of seats invite to rest. The Cope 
lawn is extensive and in good taste. The large stone mansion faces Main 
street. The Pennsylvania Railroad runs just below it. As its many trains 
come and go let us compare the following old record with a modern time-table. 
In the United States Gazette, of Philadelphia, published by E. Bronson, 
May 6, A. D. 1812, there is an advertisement of WiUiam T. Stockton & Co., 
of the Baltimore and New York Pilot Lines of Stages. " Through in one day. 



418 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Only seven passengers admitted." The Baltimore passengers were to break- 
fast at Newport and dine at Havre-de-Grace. 

Opposite the "Grotto" Mr. Evelyn Smith's house stands on a high bank. 
Beyond the " Grotto," on the same side of Rex avenue, is the house where the 
venerable Rev. Dr. Richard Newton, rector of the Church of the Covenant, in 
the city, lately died. He passed away to Paradise full of years and honors 
shortly after the death of his beloved wife, and a little before that of his 
friend, Bishop Stevens. They had worked faithfully together as bishop and 
rector for man}- a year. In this quiet home Dr. Newton carried on his sacred 
and literary work. Few men have done more to instruct young and old in 
the ways of Christ's religion. His works have been translated into various 
languages and gone over the world. All honor to the toiler who worked on 
till death came. The house, with its ample piazza and surrounding yard, 
looks as if it might have been a literarj^ retreat. It should be deemed a place 
of historical importance. 

Miss Uhler's house, at the corner of Bethlehem and Reading pikes, was 
opened in the Centennial year. At this house in old times a store was kept 
by the firm of Thomas Bates and Mr. Yeakle. A part of the house is of 
Revolutionary date. This was the one store of Chestnut Hill when it was a 
country place. The building has been much enlarged and improved to 
answer its present purpose. Watson mentions Miss Uhler's house as the 
house of Mr. Lentz. 

SAMUEL SAUER. 

In delivering a lecture on Baltimore in the German language. Professor 
Seidensticker received notes from Chas. G. Sower, the Philadelphia publisher, 
who pursues the family's ancient vocation, which throw light on the life of a 
Chestnut Hill printer. The Professor has placed the memoranda in my 
hands and the}'' will be useful in this history. His letter is explanatory : 

Philadelphia, June 12, 1888. 
Rev. S. F. Hotchkin : 

Dear Sir: — I enclose to you the notes that Mr. Charles G. Sower gave me. 
He extracted them from private letters of Samuel Sower in his possession. I 
add that S. Sower Was born in Germantown, 20th of March, 1767, and died in 
Baltimore, 12th of October, 1820. He commenced publishing a German 
weekly (Chestnuthiller Wockenschrift) in Chestnut Hill on the 15th of December, 
1790. In 1794 he removed to Philadelphia, and in 1795 to Baltimore. I 
have the titles of eleven German books which he published in Chestnut Hill, 
of two published in Philadelphia, and of nine published in Baltimore. His 
weekly was continued until 1794, in Philadelphia, under the title of Das 
Philadelphier Wockenblatt. I have been assured bj' several gentlemen of Balti- 
more that they have seen a copy of a newspaper printed by Samuel Sower in 



CHESTNUT HILL. 419 

Baltimore, but they did not remember its title, nor could the paper be 
produced. 

Very respectfully yours, 

C. Seidensticker. 

r add Charles G. Sower's information : 

" The will of Christopher Sower (2d), bequeathed to his son Samuel ' my 
messuage and tenement and lot of ground in Germantown purchased of 
Samuel Morris, Sheriff, situated on the southwest side of the Main street, and 
on the northwest side of the road leading to the Falls of Schuylkill ; also my 
other lot of ground purchased of Hannah Rawliuson, on northwest side of 
said road to Falls of Schuylkill, bounded by lands of Henry Hill, Esq., John 
Keyser and William Tustin.' Will made March 23, 1777." 

" After Christopher Sower (3d) returned from England he went first to Nova 
Scotia, but finally returned and settled in Baltimore, where he entered busi- 
ness with his brother Samuel, but he soon sickened and died." 

" Samuel Sower's first wife was Sarah Landis. She died February, 1791. 
Her sister, Catherine Seitz, died on the day of Sarah's funeral. They lived in 
the same house." 

Baltimore, December 7, 1708, Samuel Sower writes : — I am chained down 
(to business) closer than ever, for I am employing the two Kempfers, a 
journeyman and a 3'oung learner, beside the stamp cutter and six or seven 
apprentices, and expect to employ one or two more journeymen. My partner 
will not bother him.self with business, having invested between $7000 and 
$8000 in the business, and built for me a house costing at least |3000. I see 
him not more tlian once a month, and he leaves everj'^thing in my hands to 
manage, saying if he had not the utmost confidence in me he should not have 
gone into it." 

" The business of type founding is making great strides, orders pouring in 
from everywhere, so that we cannot fill the half of them. We have under- 
taken to cast the smallest type that have yet been used in the world. You 
may judge of its fineness when it takes 4000 to 5000 spaces to weigh a pound. 
Of this type we have one order from New York for three hundred pounds for 
a Bible. I sent Brother David a catalogue containing about all the type we 
have had engraved, and you may never have looked upon a neater specimen 
of type. We have received an order from Albany for a note type for a book of 
hymns — 1500 pounds for $2587. If we could get antimony enough we 
would have work for twelve founders. I am working night and day. We 
have eleven boys and six journeymen at w'ork, and orders for 5000 pounds of 
type." 

November 10, 1813, he writes that he has been invited to become a preacher. 
His onl}^ daughter, Maria, had mari'ied Mr. Richard Spalding, " a respectable, 
industrious, home-loving, sober and honest merchant, educated as a lawyer 



420 CHESTNUT HILL. 

but preferring business to the law." The greater part of the letter relates to 
"religious thought and experience." 

.January 7, 1815, he writes of the war : " Every sound man is compelled to 
shoulder the musket, whether he be worth $100,000 or nothing." Some 
religious thoughts upon war follow, showing his adherence to the peace princi- 
ples of his father. Mentions being present in German town, when the battle 
was fought in 1777, and compares it to the bombardment of the fort in Balti- 
more, which he describes as terrific. The type foundry was partly buried in 
the ground and partly sent to the country on account of the invasion of the 
British. 

March 11, 1819, he writes to his sister, complaining of his eyes and general 
health, but says: "Jesus and my small chamber are a world" for him. 
Financially his circumstances are good." 

October 19, 1819, his sister writes to him : " I think you have ruined your 
eyes by so much letter engraving " — probably models for new type. 

February 17, 1820. He replies and speaks of his " kind and loving " daugh- 
ter, who " is now and alwaj^s has been ' my darling.' " As regards property, 
" Providence has been very lavish to me, but property has been much reduced 
in value." His house that rented for $350 now rents for |200. Houses that 
cost $5000 and $400 ground rent are now renting for $175. 

He says : " I employ but one caster, and should dismiss him and close up 
my type foundry if it were practicable. I have from $5000 to $6000 worth of 
type in stock, and of $1000 or $1500 that I was quite sure of getting about news- 
papers I have received but $75." 

Mr. Charles G. Sower has a number of books which were published by Samuel 
Sower. He published " Washingtoniana," a biographical sketch. Baltimore, 
190 Market street, 1800. With portrait of Washington. 12mo., sheep, 300 
pp. Also, " Count Roderic's Castle." Baltimore : Printed by Samuel Sower 
for Keating's book store, 1795. Two volumes in one. 12mo., sheep, 200 pp. 
Also, " Ready Reckoner." 12mo., sheep. Chestnut Hill : Samuel Sower, 1798. 
He also put out several German books. A German Almanac was issued at 
Chestnut Hill, 1792. This gives the name as Saur in German fashion. In 
1796 he published " Der Psalter," in Baltimore. 24mo., 280 pp. One German 
book was first published in Chestnut Hill in 1791, and re-published in Baltimore 
in 1797. This was" Der DavidischePsalterspiel." Chestnut Hill, 1791. Sixth 
Edition. 12mo., sheep, 648 pp. Other German works: "Der Geschwinde 
Reckoner " (Ready Reckoner), erste. Auf. (i.e. Auflage [edition] ), Baltimore, 
1801. 24mo., sheep. " Johann Lassenin's Politische Geheimnis " (John 
Lessenin's Political Secret). Baltimore, 1795. For Saur & Jones, Philadelphia. 
24mo., 200 pp. " Prophetische Muthmaszungen (Prophetical Conjectures) uber 
die Franzosische Revolution," No 51. " Ressestrasse zwischen der zwezte und 
dritten strasse," 1797. 



iiK 







DRUIM MOIR.' 



CHESTNUT HILL. 421 

I append letters received from Prof. Seidensticker and Charles G. Sower. 

Philadelphia, November 13, 1888. 
Rev. S. F. Hotchkin : 

The Almanacs, which S. Sower commenced publishing in 1792 were regularly 
continued in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and Baltimore. 

In addition to the books mentionedby you, he printed a number of German 
books of which I have a list. 

The impression that F. D. Pastorius had resided in Chestnut Hill is proba- 
bly due to the fact, that for some time he owned there 200 acres of land, a gift 
of Wm. Penn. He sold these to Abraham Gunis and Wm. Streepers. The 
details as to price and time I have not at hand, but remember that Pastorious 
somewhere remarks, he had sold the land at a very low figure. In his will 
he disposed of 893 acres of land on the Perkiomen creek and 50 acres in Ger- 
mantown ; likewise of a claim to 107 more acres in Germantown. 

By some verses he wrote in 1711, and again in 1716 it appears that Chris- 
topher Witt was his neighbor. Those of 1711 have the heading : " When 
anno 1711 Christopher Witt removed his flower-beds close to my fence." First 
comes a Latin distich : 

Floribus in propiis habet et sua gaudia Pauper 
Atque in vicinis gaudia Pauper habet. 

The other poem has for its subject " Christopher Witt's Fig Tree." Pastorius 
threw the paper, on which it was written over the fence and received an 
answer, likewise in verses, bj"- the same mode of conveyance. Pastorius 
expressed in his lines a fear that the fig tree would not stand the severity of the 
climate during winter, mentioning at the'same time the manifold good uses 
figs could be put to. Christoper Witt answers, he would give his tree at all 
events a trial ; may be it would, the next summer, rejoice us with its precious 
fruits. 

(See my contribution to the Deutsche Pioneer, Cincinnati, 1871, p. 183.) 

Very respectfully yours, 

C. Seidensticker. 

Philadelphia, December 17, 1888. 
Rev. S. F. Hotchkin : 

Dear Sir. — As may be seen by the article, " Samuel Sower did a very large 
business in Baltimore. Having but one child and that a daughter, the name 
of Sower became extinct in Baltimore although many of his descendants 
still live there. His third wife, mother of the daughter alluded to, was Eliza- 
beth La Motte, who died in March, 1862, at an advanced age. Richard B. 
Spalding, husband of the daughter (Maria), was a member of the Roman 
Church and related to Arch Bishop Spalding, I am informed. 



422 CHESTNUT HILL. 

"A daughter of Richard and Maria Spalding, married Benj. P. Power, and 
one of their sons is now extensively engaged in the publishing business in 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

" As all of Samuel Sower's descendants are through Richard B. Spalding, 
whose wife also joined the R. C. Church, they are naturally members of that 
church. Samuel Sower, however, remained faithful to the faith and doctrines 
of the Dunkards, and during all his life his correspondence shows the depth 
of his piety and the meekness, purity and complete resignation to his Master's 
will characteristic of that denomination. 

Chakles G. Sower." 

DRUIM MOIR. 

Mr. H. H. Houston calls his mansion Druim Moir, which means Great 
Ridge. There is a place in Lancaster county bearing this name. Drumore 
township received its name from Dromore, Druim Moir (Great Ridge), a 
strongly fortified place, in County Down, Ireland, on the Lagan. The town- 
sliip account book has written on its headings from the year 1765 to 1800 
" Dromore " and " Drummore." Since then it is written " Drumore." 

In Murray's Hand Book of Ireland, is the following : " Drumore, from very 
early ages was the seat of an Abbey for Canons Regular, which afterward 
became the Cathedral for the Protestant diocese of Down, Connor, and Dromore. 
It fell into ruins however, and the present church was built on its site by 
Bishop Jeremy Taylor, who together with Dr. Percy, author of " Reliques of 
Ancient English Poetry," were the two most noteworthy prelates. Adjoining 
the town is the Palace," the grounds designed and planted by the latter bishop 
after the model of Shenstone's Leasowes. In the " See " House the several Bish- 
ops of the diocese resided up to 1843, when, at the death of Bishop Saurin, it 
was annexed to Down and Connor." Drumore is on the route from Duudulk 
to Belfast. 

While the name of this country place reminds one of an old Irish town 
which was the seat of a bishop, and had the ruins of a castle near it, the 
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, near by, takes us back to a time when green 
fields were seen where London streets now rule. Such associations are interest- 
ing and instructive. Mr. Houston's fine mansion is built of local stone, with 
granite trimmings and shingle roof. The location is at the end of the ridge 
on which the Wissahickon Inn lies. One of the most striking features of the 
building is a fine English Tower five stories in height, with a battlement sur- 
mounting it, containing a portion of the librar}^ in the lower story. The house 
is of a composite style of architecture. At the eastern side of the mansion a 
piazza commences which runs southwest round the tower and then to the end 
of the dining-room. An ample porte-cochere invites the guests to enter. The 
kitchen is in the rear of the carriage entrance. An embattled square-roofed 
erection rises in the rear of the porte-cochere, covering the entrance. Three 
gables in English fashion face the northeast while an oriel rises with its coni- 



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CHESTNUT HILL. 42:3 

cal top, next which an exposed outer chimney gives another English touch to 
the exterior. Adjoining this, a dormer window prettily breaks the roof. The 
grounds were tastefully laid out by the owner, and winding drives and natural 
shrubberry which adorned the ground before the erection of the house, mingle 
with flower and rhododendron beds planted by Mr. Houston. The effort has 
been to follow nature rather than to force new ideas upon her. The road from 
the house to the Wissahickon drive, is specially beautiful, being lined with 
dogwood trees. Here nature has been left to her own sweet will, and it looks 
to the rider as if he were passing through the Kaaterskill drive in the Catskill 
Mountains. Such wildness near a city is delightful. The crows which fre- 
quent this height have always had fine views over hill, forest, and one of the 
deepest wooded valleys of the Wissahickon. The following is from " Apple- 
ton's Rural Homes : " 

" One of the largest and most commanding suburban villas in this country 
is that owned by Mr. H. H. Houston, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The 
walls are built and faced with Chestnut Hill gray stone, laid in coursed work, 
rock face, and the trimmings are of Eastern granite. Entering the building, 
we find the hall and .stairway in oak ; the parlor in butternut ; the reception- 
room in mahogany ; the library and dining-room in quartered oak ; the 
office in chei'ry ; the servants' quarters in white pine ; and the principal bed- 
rooms, in oak, cherry and sycamore. Particular attention may be directed to 
the high wainscoting of the main hall, and to the wooden ceiling on each floor ; 
also to the dome at the top, with a centre skylight. All the columns and 
arches of the hall are in oak, with carved panels and caps. The wainscoting 
of the dining-room and library is accompanied by paneled ceilings in oak. 
The work was finished in Jul}', 1886. On leaving the house one casts a 
respectful glance at the large red-stone mantel in the liall and the mosaic floors 
in the vestibule. The architects were Messrs. G. W. Hewitt and W. D. Hewitt, 
of Philadelphia. 

" Considered in its more general aspect, this house has many manifestations 
of common sense in architecture. For example, in arranging the rooms con- 
nected with the kitchen, care has been taken that the servants shall be 
required to traverse as little space as possible in the performance of their duties ; 
the butler's pantry has been put just whei'e it is most convenient, without 
interfering in the least with the more important rooms. In this po.sition it 
serves also the useful purpose of preventing the necessary odors of the kitchen 
from permeating the hall and library, and is of convenient size, with appro- 
priate dresser, shelving, drawers and closet. The practice of incorporating wliat 
is known in England as a serving or sideboard-room, in the interior plan of 
the house, is less common here than there, although, where the house is one of 
any pretensions, the purpose of the sideboard-room, which serves as a means 
of communication between the dining-room and the kitchen, is promoted in a 
similar way — as in the present instance, where a simple hall answers every 
requirement. Furthermore, the architect has succeeded in arranging the 



424 CHESTNUT HILL. 

various rooms of the first floor as to provide each with the requisite space, 
and to locate all as compactly as possible. The drawing-room is not so large 
as to rob the library. Wherever an opportunity has offered for favoring one 
room above another, the preference has been given to those rooms in which 
the family pass the most of their time ; and for them special arrangements 
have been made in the interest of ventilation and of heating. The value of 
light in these apartments could not have been more thoroughly appreciated ; 
and there is little disposition to sacrifice this luxury for the sake of adding a 
convenient piazza or introducing an imposing balcony. In the servants' quai'- 
ters, also, this principle has been applied, on the general theory that servants 
can do more for their mistress when laboring under hygienic conditions — so 
much more, indeed, that the slight additional expense necessary to create such 
conditions was considered of no consequence, in view of the gain in positive 
comfort. It seems as if the owner had said to the architect, ' What I desire, 
fir.st of all, is a comfortable place to live in ' ; and as if the architects, in meet- 
ing this wish, had possessed adequate apjDrehensions of the necessity of treat- 
ing servants well, if the full measure of household comfort was to be secured. 
The position of the porch, in relation to the points of the compass, has been 
ca'refuUy considered. Some porches are so heavily built that they dwarf the 
impression made by the main walls themselves; and others are so large that 
they seem intended as places of permanent abode, or at least to serve the pur- 
pose of an entrance-hall. Nothing of this kind occurs in the bouse in hand ; 
and when we come to the entrance-hall itself, we find it both artistic in its 
apiDurtenances and 'convenient in its dimensions, as if in memory of the fact 
that in our modern house it is all that remains of the old Gothic hall." 

Mr. Samuel Frederic Houston, a son of H. H. Houston, has a residence on 
the grounds described. It lies west of DruimMoir and is built of stone and 
shingles in French-Norman style of architecture. The view from this dwel- 
ling is wilder, but less extensive than that from Druim Moir. The house is 
very appropriately named " Brinkwood," being situated on the edge of the 
Wissahickon forest. The interior of the dwelling is Yevj unique, having a 
triangular hall in which is situated the stairway which is a beautiful feature. 
A house is now nearly finished for the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. 
Henry. Mrs. Henry is a daughter of Mr. Houston. This dwelling is on the 
adjoining ridge to Mr. Houston's property. Springfield avenue divides these 
places. It is of stone, and of Colonial stjde, with an ample piazza. A porte- 
cochere introduces one to the front door. There are large rooms in the house 
and each room commands its own beautiful view. A fine conservatory will 
adorn the southern side of the mansion. The whole aspect is pleasing. 

ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS. 

Tuesday, the 5th of June, A. D. 1888, was a delightful summer day, and 
toward evening a train of surpliced choristers and clergy marched over the 
temporary floor of this new free church which will add one more to the various 




ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS, WISSAHICKON HEIGHTS. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 425 

Episcoiml Churches which have risen to the glorj' of God in Christ, in Ger- 
niantown cand Chestnut Hill. The 122d P.salm, " I was glad when they said 
unto me : We will go into the house of the Lord," etc., was read responsively 
as this "new Jerusalem" was entered, and may have led some to think of 
the heavenly Jerusalem above, " the mother of us all." Gal. 4, 26. The corner, 
stone was laid by the Rev. Dr. J. De Wolf Perry, Dean of the Convocation of 
Germantown, and Rector of Calvary Church, Germantown. Rev. Dr. T. S. 
Rumney, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Germantown, assisted in the service- 
and the choir was from St. Peter's, Germantown. 

The earnest address spoke of a time when the surrounding fields would be 
closely built upon, and those who were present at the laying of the corner- 
stone would be in another world. The following description is from the 
Philadelphia Inquirer of Wednesday, June 6, A. D. 1888. 

Before introducing it, it should be added that the Hj^mn, " Lord of Hosts, 
whose glory fills the bounds of the eternal hills," rang out grandly among 
the "hills of God ".which encompass the new church, while the blue vault of 
heaven above showed the roof of God's great temple, the universe over-shadow- 
ing the earthly temple " made with hands." 

The edifice is to be a clere-story church, with columns and aisles, and consists 
of a nave, two transepts, a deep chancel, organ room, vestry and choir rooms, 
and a carriage porch. The dimensions of the nave, including the aisles, are 
46 by 80 feet, of the transepts, 10 by 22 feet ; of the chancel, 25 by 28 feet ; 
choir and vestry rooms, 20 by 15 feet. The height from the floor to the apex 
of the roof will be 50 feet. The material to be used in the construction of the 
church is local graystone from adjoining quarries, with trimmings of Indiana 
limestone. Tiie interior will be entirely faced out with brick and the general 
tone of the walls is to be buff, with wainscoting of red and decorated bands of 
different colors. The clere-story columns are of Indiana limestone and have 
carved caps and bases of the same. The clere-story arches are of red brick. 
The tracery of the windows is also of Indiana limestone. The roof will be of 
op«n timber construction so as to show all the timbers, forming a ceiling of 
varnished wood throughout. The pews are to be of hard wood. The chancel 
end of the church will be surmounted by a tower of stone 100 feet high. 

The Hewitts are the architects and W. C. Mackie is the builder. 

The procession was composed of the following persons : 
The surpliced choir of St. Peter's Church, Germantown, Mr. Charles 0. Fraser. 
choir master ; Revs. J. De Wolf Perry, D. D., T. C. Rumney, D. D., Charles R, 
Bonnell, S. C. Hill, J. xin'drews Harris, D. D., Charles Logan, J. T. Carpenter, 
J. K. Murphy, William Ely, S. Upjohn, Thomas Taylor, George Bringhurst, 
J. G. Furey, C. H. Hibbard, E. Weil, T. P. Ege,' S. F. Hotchkin, R. E. 
Dennison, J. L. Miller, Joseph Miller, Jr., W. C. French, D. D., Messrs. George 
B. Bonnell, B. B. Comegys, H. H. Houston, E. S. Bulkley, George E. Peabody, 
H. H. Kingston, S. K. Kille, J. Vaughan Merrick, C. Stuart Patterson, E. A. 
Crenshaw, Charles Bullock, Joseph A. Shaeffer, AY. W. Harding, Edwin 



426 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Bedlock, W. C. Mackie, George W. Hewitt, Peter B. Hinkle and a large num- 
ber of ladies and gentlemen not onlj^ from the vicinity but from the city. 

An address was made by Rev. Charles R. Bonnell, of St. Stephen's Church, 
Mauayunk. He referred to the great helps in the worship of God. The act 
of worship in God's house is offering. For men whose spirits are known the 
worshijD of God involves the offering of substance. The government under 
which we live is acknowledged in the payment of taxes. The duty of man is 
in the use of what he has. God makes every man responsible for that over 
which His Providence has jjlaced him. The duties of charity should be 
according to man's ability. The payment of tithes is not an act of charity, 
but a duty. Here, said he, God's house is building ; God provides for spiritual 
wants by siairitual agents. This church now building does not come after 
men have been working a subscription ; it comes to us as an offering, as an 
acknowledgment of Almighty God. Here is an altar built to God, and as this 
church is begun so also ought it to continue. People frequently forget that 
one-tenth of our substance is due to God. This is called a fvee church, where 
what God provides is offered freely to all. Here a tower of witness will be 
erected telling that the Almighty God is possessed of Heaven and earth. 
Here also is a treasure house, because here will be found the means of grace 
which God" abundantly provided. It is manifest that that which man depends 
upon must influence him. There is a well of salvation open here. This 
church is called St. Martin-in-the-Fields. St. Martin had the characteristics 
of courage, of devotion and of unlimited charity. Henry VIII built St. Martin- 
in-the-Fields, and now it is St. Martin's, Trafalgar Square, London. Let us 
seek, like St. Martin, to be courageous and devoted. May this altar never fail 
of offerings, and may the well of salvation to be opened cleanse and refresh 
throughout all generations. The services concluded with the benediction bj' 
Rev. Dr. Perry, and the recessional hymn was " The Church's One Founda- 
tion." 

The ground and the entire cost of the new edifice are the munificent gift of 
Mr. H. H. Houston, of Chestnut Hill. The church, when completed, will be 
quite an addition to the church architecture of the diocese. 

A stone rectory and a fine parish building of stone adjoin the church. 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

In the fall of 1850, the Rev. R. Owen came to Chestnut Hill to establish a 
school for boys, having been obliged to give up preaching for a season on 
account of his throat. The next spring, having regained his liealth, he was 
urged by the Presbyterians on the Hill to hold religious services, which he 
did, starting in the school house, and later in the old Union Chapel, situated 
on what is now L^nion avenue and Twenty-seventh street. This chapel was 
built for the use of all denominations, by Rev. Mr. Magoffin, a large land 
owner here in the early days, and most of the different churches held their 



CHESTNUT HILL. 427 

meetings there until able to erect suitable buildings. The church was organ- 
ized in May, 1852, witli seventeen members, and Dr. Smith as ruling elder. 
The necessity of having a larger place of worship was now felt, and on the 1st 
of July, 1852, the corner stone was laid, and on the 16th of June, 1853, it was 
dedicated, having at that time a membership of forty persons, and a Sabbath 
school of forty pupils. In 1857 the house was built, and in 1869 the church 
was enlarged. In 1879, it was found that the room used by the Sabbath 
school was too small, and a large addition was made containing a lecture 
room, ladies' parlor infant class room, session room, and Sabbath school room, 
at a cost of $12,000. Rev. R. Owen, D. D., continued in charge until February, 
1885, when, owing to ill health, he resigned all active duty, and was made 
pastor emeritus. In October, 1885, Rev. W. W. Hammond, D. D., was installed 
as pastor. 

CHRISTIAN HALL LIBRARY. 

David Macfarlane, librarian. An old library was kept in the ancient 
Snyder house, now occupied by the Johnson family, nearly opposite the present 
library. That library closed about 1840. This was a pay library kept by 
Daniel Snyder. After it ceased to exist the town was without a public library 
until 1870, when 'Henry J. Williams founded the present one. Mr. Williams 
built tlie rough-dressed stone building from a Chestnut Hill quarry and pre- 
sented it to the village, appointing trustees for its care. The founder gave 
personal oversight to its construction. The lower story is used for library pur- 
poses, and at first was divided into two rooms, but the partition has been 
removed. The upper story was occupied by the Christian Association for 
religious services and social purposes. The Association has passed away. 
The Presbyterians and Methodists have used it when additions were being 
made to their churches. The colored people have services here in the summer, 
having various colored and white ministers, though they have no religious 
organization. 

The hall is also available for public entertainments and lectures. It was 
furnished by Mr. Williams. The bulk of the library was presented by Henry 
J. Williams who fitted up the room. The cases were from his own law office. 
He was a distinguished lawyer. 

Henry D. Landis and James T. Young donated a portion of the books. 
Mr. Young also donated a library to the Sunday school of the Presbyterian 
•Church, and also a parish library to that church. 

The library is a fair selection of valuable books for general use. It was 
started as a reading room. In a few years the trustees, to extend its useful- 
ness, made it a subscription library. About five years later it was thought 
useful to make it a free library. Mr. Williams left the interest of $15,000 to 
sustain it, and the deficiency is made up by the generous citizens of Chestnut 
Hill. Mr. Williams appointed fourteen trustees. Rev. Dr. Owen has been 



428 CHESTNUT HILL. 

the continuous president. The Hon. John J. Macfarlane is secretary, having- 
also held the office from the first. George Bessan, who was postmaster, was 
the first librarian and Andrew Fisher the second, and Mr. Macfarlane was the 
third. Would that every village had such a library for public improvement ! 
Persons receiving such free books should show appreciation by a careful use 
of them. 

A frame building in the rear was built by Mr. Williams for social purposes, 
for the Christian Association. It was used by a literary society and afterward 
by the Workingmen's Club. 

The librarian, Mr. Macfarlane, a brother of State Senator Macfarlane, has- 
died since the above account was written. He kindly aided my investigations.. 

The report of May 1, A. D. 1886, showed the expenses of the j^ear to have 
been $1360 for which Mr. Williams's fund yielded $425. The report says :, 
" The library is used by all classes of citizens. Upwards of seven hundred 
take books out of the library, and twelve hundred volumes are taken out in a 
month." The rej^ort appeals for subscriptions to aid the good Avork. It is. 
signed by R. Owen, president, and John J. Macfarlane, secretary. 

A condensed history of the JMethodist Episcopal Church, at Chestnut 
Hill, Twenty-second ward, Philadelphia, taken from memoranda in possession 
of Robert Thomas, Esq. : 

Prior to the year 1820 there was very little, if any preaching at Chestnut 
Hill. Occasionally a IMethodist or Baptist minister would preach there — in 
the school house, or such other place as could be had for that purpose. In the 
year 1821, Mr. John Maguffin, a Presbyterian, erected a chapel on his farm on 
the road now known as Graver's lane, or 'Union avenue, southwestward from 
Germantown avenue, and named it " LTnion Chapel," desiring that all Christ- 
ians, of whatever denomination they might be, should have a place in which 
to hold religious services. Shortly -after the completion of this chapel Chestnut 
Hill was recognized as one of the regular appointments on what was then 
known as Bristol Circuit. This circuit extended from. Bristol. on the Delaware 
westward to the Schuylkill and northward from Germantown to the Blue 
mountains ; and once in every five or six weeks there was preaching by either 
one of the circuit preachers or a local brother, in said chapel. 

The first Methodist class was formed in the latter part of the year 1822, or- 
early in 1823. William Hawes was the first class leader, and they met at the 
house of Jacob Hawes, on the Main street, just below what is now known as 
Highland avenue. 

In the year 1831 the old Bristol Circuit was divided and Germantown Cir- 
cuit formed out of a part of it. Chestnut Hill was included in Germantown 
Circuit, the whole circuit embracing fourteen preaching places, and having 
sometimes two and sometimes three circuit preachers. 

During the year 1844 it was determined to build a church for the Methodists, 
exclusively, and the lot on which the present church edifice stands was secured 



CHESTNUT HILL. 429 

for that purpose. The corner-stone of the first church was laid on tlie second 
Monday in June, 1845. 

It was so arranged in 1847 that the junior preacher of the circuit should 
reside at the Hill, in order to give more pastoral care to the congregation, the 
preacher in charge residing in Germantown. This arrangement continued 
until 1S51, when Germantown was made a station and Chestnut Hill Circuit 
was formed. 

The congregation at Chestnut Hill was incorporated by act of Assembly, 
approved May 18, 1847, by the name, style and title of -'Wesley Chapel, 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of Chestnut Hill." 

In the year 1877 the present parsonage was erected, while Brother S. T. 
Kemble was pastor, at a cost of about $5000, a large part of which he was 
instrumental in raising. 

During 1881-82 Rev. Samuel Irwin labored hard to raise funds for the erec- 
tion of a new church, and succeeded in raising about $1000. 

In March, 1884, the Conference appointed the Eev. A. F. Dotterer, pastor for 
the purpose of building a new church edifice. With many to predict failure, 
and comparatively few to give encouragement, he undertook the task. His first 
step was to secure the removal of the bodies interred in front of the old church. 
In this he succeeded in so far as relates to the ground covered by the new 
building, and in fact all, with perhaps two or three bodies still remaining 
between the building and the street line. Ground was broken for the new 
building August 25, 1884. The corner-stone was laid September 27, 1884, by 
the Presiding Elder, Rev. Joseph Welch, assisted by other pastors of" his own 
denomination and sister churches. The new building was finished and dedi- 
cated to the worship of Almighty God, free of debt, on Sunday, June 21, 1885. 
The entire cost of the new building and improvements was about $12,000 all 
of which, with the exception of the. $1000 raised by Brother Irwin, and its 
accrued interest, was raised by the untiring efTorts of Brother Dotterer, assisted 
by his brethren and friends. 

. The following is a hst of the pastors serving said Church since it was set 
apart as a special organization, commencing with the year 1847 : 

1847, J. E. Meredith; 1848, Alfred Cookraan ; 1849, J. B. McCuUough; 1850, 
Reuben Owen ; 1851, Andrew Manship ; 1852, Andrew Longacre; 1853, 1854, 
T. Snowden Thomas; 1855, Henry H. Bodine; 1856, J. L. Heysinger; 1857, 
Richard W. Humphries ; 1858, Noble Frame ; 1859, T. M. Griffith ; 1860, S. 
L. Gracey; .1861, 1862, S. N. Chew; 1863, J. F. Reynolds; 1864, 1865, Isaac 
Mast; 1866, C. J. Little; 1867, 1868, S. Townsend; 1869, 1870, 1871, Andrew 
Manship; 1872; 0. L. Haddock; 1873, George W, Lybrand ; 1874, 1875, J. R. 
Merrill; 1876, 1877, 1878, S. T. Kemble; 1879, J. B. Maddox; 1880, Joseph S. 
Cook ; 1881, 1882, Samuellrwin; 1883, Thomas W. Simpers; 1884, 1885, 1886, 
A. F. Dotterer ; 1887, 1888, J. P. Miller. 

William B. Reed lived in Furman Shepherd's house, the second door back 
of the railway depot, on the upper side of the street. 



430 CHESTNUT HILL. 

At the corner of the Reading pike and Chestnut avenue is the house of Dr. 
Moss. The three neighboring houses here were built by a gentleman who sold 
them to persons who occupied them. Dr. Moss was the first occupant of the 
corner house. The three dwellings have been built about twent3'-five }• ears. 

The tasteful and quaint tile house of Dr. Boiling was built by him six or 
seven years ago. It stands on the Reading turnpike, near the Library and on 
the same side of the street. The red color and the half door give it a foreign 
look, and the interior, as well as the exterior, show taste in design and execu- 
tion. It is pleasant to see a return to old styles of architecture, and a variety 
in the color of houses gives a pleasing effect to the village. The foundation 
of this house is of stone, the first story of brick, and the upper part of tile. I 
am indebted to its owner for information about Chestnut Hill, where his daily 
drives make him well informed. 

The yellow house of Mrs. Richard Norris is next to that of General Owen. 
It is on the Reading pike. This was formerly the residence of John M. Hilde- 
burn, but it has been twice remodeled by Mr. Norris, and is now a pleasant 
mansion three stories high, with a bay window. He bought it about 1858 
and added to it then, and made a fresh addition in 1864, making a large 
building. Richard Norris was an eminent engine builder. 

The house of Henry Norris, son of Richard Norris, stands next bej^ond the 
one just described. Samuel Smith, Sr., formerly owned and occupied it. This 
old-fashioned yellow house stands among the trees, which are its ancient com- 
panions. These residences are surrounded by fine and ample grounds 

The abode of Miss Harriet Benson is next in order, on the brow of the hill, 
with its pleasant surroundings. This was the home of Charles Taylor, and 
bore the name of " Norwood." The lawn above the house is remarkably fine 
and extensive. 

The falling ground as we proceed offers a delightful view, especially in the 
early morning. Sunset avenue is the pretty name of the next highway, which 
recalls the fact that the setting, as well as the rising, sun sheds its glory here. 

Beyond this avenue is the country seat of Alfred C. Harrison, the sugar 
refiner, of the firm of Harrison and Fraser. The next jjlace belongs to the 
Shepherd family. 

On the left side of the Reading pike, in going from the town, stands the 
three-story bluestone house belonging to the estate of George V. Rex, and now 
occupied by Mr. Whitaker. Walter E. Rex, son of George V. Rex, was long 
the Recorder of Deeds in the city. The Rex family is one of the oldest families 
in Chestnut Hill. 

Next below this residence Richard Chapman's extensive lawn sweeps down 
the hill. The proprietor is the son of a physician, and is a wholesale dry 
goods merchant in Chestnut street. 

Jesse Kueedler's beautiful place comes next in order. He is also a wholesale 
dry goods merchant. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 431 

The adjoining residence, with its fine grounds, is the proi^icrty of Isaac 
Waterman. It is occupied hj his son-in-law, Mr. Dwight. Next beyond this 
is Mrs. Penrose's place. 

Mr. Page has a residence on Sunset avenue and the Reading pike. He is a 
son of the gentleman who has a mansion on "Sugar Loaf." 

In leaving the town and going toward Barren Hill, at the hill called " Sugar 
Loaf," Charles W. Trotter and Joseph F. Page have beautiful mansions of stone 
on splended sites, which afford good views. Mr. Page's house is in front of Mr. 
Trotter's. " Sugar Loaf Hill " formerly constituted a part of the farm of 
William Stroud. Mr. Page's gently sloping lawn reaches down to the turnpike. 

Bej'ond the house of Mr. Page is the fine country seat of Mr. Bodine. There 
is an observatory on the top of the mansion in the form of a cupola. The 
position is a good one for observation. Mr. Bodine is a broker and the partner 
of John F. Keen. 

Christopher Yeakel owned the property which contains the sites of the Penn- 
sylvania and Reading depots, as well as much other land in Chestnut Hill. 
Mr. Yeakel was from Germany, being a Shwenckfelder. He came here under 
persecution. The Government at home afterward invited the Shwenckfelders 
back, but they declined. The graveyard adjoining the Williams estate is the 
Yeakel family's yard. The inscriptions are largely in German. 

Mrs. Thomas Bates, of Chestnut Hill, and Charles, Joseph and William 
Yeakel, living in Montgomery county, near Chestnut Hill, are descendants of 
this famih'. 

Daniel Yeakel lives on a farm on the Bethlehem jjike, on the right going 
northward from Chestnut Hill, just beyond the toll-gate, which was the 
property of Abraham Yeakel, who died in 1762, a brother of Christojiher. His 
wife was named Maria. 

The English soldiers knocked Christopher's hat from his head with a spear 
when at his own door. The British soldiers came out of the city to surprise 
Washington at Whitemarsh in the night and returned in disappointment. 
Some of the farmers were obliged to do their seeding at night in those troub- 
lous times. 

The Schwenkfelders worshijjed in Towamen,sing, where they still have a 

■ church, under the care of Rev. George Master. See the " Genealogical Record 

of Descendants of the Schwenkfelders," by Rex. Balthazar Heebner, and from 

other sources by Rev. Reuben Kriebel, with historical sketch by C. Heydrick. 

" Christopher Yeakle was about eighteen j^ears of age when he came to 
Pennsylvania with his mother in 1734. His father died in German}^ He 
apprenticed himself to a cooper and continued during life to follow his trade. 
He built the log house in 1743 ; yet standing in 1879 ; it still stands in 1888, 
at Cresheim, Germantown township, Philadelphia, which was his dwelling 
until nearly the time of the Revolution, when he purchased the property on 
the summit of Chestnut Hill, now owned bj' his granddaughter, and died there 



432 CHESTNUT HILL. 

at a very advanced age. By his industrious and frugal habits he died possessed 
of considerable property. His descendants are quite numerous in Philadelphia, 
and in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania." The log house is at the northeast 
corner of Main street and Mermaid lane. 

" Abraham Heydrick, son of Balthazar, married Susanna, daughter of 
Christopher Yeakle, May 4, 1767." 

"After his marriage he settled and kept a store and farmed at the foot of 
Chestnut Hill, in Springfield township, where Charles He3'drick now lives." 
The store has been turned into a dwelling. 

"John Schultz, son of Rev. John Schultz, married Eebecca, daughter of 
Christopher Yeakle, February, 1840." 

" J. S. resides ou Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, late the residence of Christo- 
pher Yeakle." 

" Rev. John Schultz, son of Christopher, married Regina, daughter of George. 
Heebner. This Schwenkfelder clergyman lived in Hereford township, Berks 
county. He was a farmer, as well as a minister, and was highly esteemed for 
his earnest and impressive piety." 

Dr. Christopher Heydrick studied medicine under Dr. Benjamin Say, of 
Philadelphia, and graduated with high honors in the Universitj^ of Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1792, at twenty-two years of age. He was a physician in the Phila- 
deljahia Hospital, and a member of the Cabinet of Sciences. For a time he 
practiced in Chestnut Hill. He undertook farming in French Creek, Venango 
enunty where he became blind. 

Governor Hartranft, is a decendant of the Schwenkfelders, and Governor 
Schultz is of the "same name mentioned in these notes. 

Edward Dowers, born in 1796, married Regina, daughter of Abraham 
Heydrick. He died in 1841. He lived on the Main street, near Donat's 
Hotel, on the same side of the way. The house is now the grocery store of 
(Jharles Still. He was a useful and respected citizen. Mr. T. L. Bates has 
given me information in this interesting matter. 

POST OFFICE. 

Chestnut Hill post office was established February 6, 1828. The first post- 
master was Jacob Guyer, who was gate-keeper at the toll-gate on the east side 
of Main street, at Evergreen avenue, where the post office was kept. Samuel 
■ Butcher succeeded him as toll-gate keeper and postmaster. Benjamin Ewing, 
a druggist, succeeded him as postmaster, and the post office was then removed 
to the west side of Main street, to the drug store which was the room now used 
as Isaac Russel's grocery store. The next postmaster taking charge was 
George Bessan, October 21, 1863. The post office was then moved to the 
property which was formerly Titlow's Hotel, at the site of the present drug 
store of T. L. Buckman, and Miss M. Haas's trimming store. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 433 

In the summer of 1864 the office was made a sub-station of the Philadelphia 
office, and the postmaster was made superintendent of the sub-station. There 
was then one carrier and now there are three. George Bessan then became 
carrier. The office was removed from the last-named site, in 1865 or 1866, 
to Main street, below Highland avenue, in the building now used by Miss Hare 
■as a trimming store. 

During Andrew Johnson's administration, for five months and two weeks, the 
office was in the hands of Levi Cope as postmaster, and John D. Wood as 
carrier. During that period the office went back to the old Titlow Hotel site. 
Then George W. Bessan was replaced, removing to the site of Miss Hare's store 
once more, which building had been built by George Bessan for a post office, 
though it was his private property. The building was used exclusively for the 
post office. In April, 1880, the office was moved to the present central location, 
at the intersection of the Bethlehem and Reading pikes. The building belongs 
to the Jordan & Buckenhorst estate. The post office is Station H. There are 
six daily mails. 

The Bethesda Children's Christian Home, for girls and boys, is indeed a 
House of Mercy, according to its meaning in the Hebrew word which desig- 
nates it. Bethesda Home was started by Miss Anna M. Clements, on the faith 
principle in the Park House, a deserted hotel building near the driving park, 
on the site of the Wissahickon Inn. It was changed from place to place until 
Mr. Williams gave it a local habitation. The work of the foundress is above 
all praise. The Home is pleasantly situated on Stenton avenue, near Wynd- 
moor Station, on the Reading Railroad. It was established about A. D. 1861, 
and was much aided by Henrj' J. Williams, Esq., who gave the grounds and 
buildings in his lifetime and left a legacy to the institution. In 1883 there 
were 140 inmates — This was the twenty-seventh year, and it began with 157 
children at the Home. 

This lengthy report shows that Christian trust is not misplaced, that charity 
is not dead, and that young and old hearts will respond to living appeals of 
w^ant. The year closed with 174 children in the Home. 

The following is a sketch of the 

CHESTNUT HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, 

furnished by Rev. B. F. Robb, Pastor : 

" In the early part of the present century John MacGoffin, a Scotch Presby- 
terian, lived on what is now known as the Sheridan farm. Wishing to do 
something for the spiritual welfare of his neighbors he talked over the subject 
with Abraham Heydrick, most of whose grandchildren are now active mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church (one of whom, W. H. H. Hej^drick, being deacon 
and clerk). The result of their deliberations took shape in Mr. Heydrick 
giving a lot of ground on Jacoby's lane, now West Union street, at the inter- 



434 CHESTNUT HILL. 

section of Twenty-seventh street. With a donation of three hundred dollars 
from Philadelphia Presbyterians, about 1825, Mr. MacGoffin built a chapel 
capable of seating one hundred and fifty people. This chapel was at first called 
' MacGofBn's Meeting-house,' afterward ' Union Chapel.' It was free to all 
Christian denominations, and was used by all the churches which now have 
iheir own church edifices on the Hill. When no other services were appointed 
MacGofSn led in worship, and read a printed sermon. 

In May, 1834, Robert F. Young, a young Baptist preacher, began a series of 
protracted meetings in Union . Chapel, assisted by Rev. D. A. Nichols. In 
these meetings eleven persons were converted. In the afternoon of August. 15 
they were baptized in the Wissahickon by Rev. D. A. Nichols. In the even- 
ing the eleven asked the opinion of the visiting brethren as to the expediency 
of organizing a Baptist Church. This was recommended. A council of 
eleven Baptist Churches was called to meet in Union Chapel, September 6, 
1834. After listening to the articles pf faith and views of Christian doctrines,, 
it recommended that the converts, now increased to sixteen, be organized 
into a Baptist Church. After organization the church elected Israel Gilbert, 
father of Dr. J. C. Gilbert, and Ezra Sands, Sr., as deacons, and thej' were at 
once ordained. They both filled this office, and were most self-sacrificing, 
earnest Christians till their deaths. Jonathan Gilbert was elected clerk, and 
Rev. Robert F. Young was invited to supply the pulpit and accepted. On 
March 22, 1835, he was called to and assumed the pastorate of the church, 
and remained in charge until October 1, 1849. 

At the junction of Springfield and, Reading Pike was a lot of ground, oc- 
cupied as a stoneyard by Henry S. Lentz, who subsequently became deacon of 
the church. This lot Israel Gilbert bought and presented to the church. In 
January, 1835, steps were taken to erect a meeting-house on it, and in tbe 
May following the corner-stone of a building 40x45 feet was laid by Rev. 
H. G. Jones, of Roxborough. In August it w'as dedicated. On the following- 
Sunday regular services in the new house were commenced, which have con- 
tinued without intermission to the present. During the pastorate of Rev> 
R. F. Young, a mission station was opened at Plymouth, which, under the 
nourishing care of the church, has grown to be a thriving, self-suj^porting 
church. On December 6, 1849, Rev. L. Walton, of the Eleventh Baptist 
Church, Philadelphia, was called to the pastoral charge. He remained in 
charge until 1853, when, to the grief of the church, he was called to his rest. 
The succeeding pastors have been Rev. Mr. Barnhurst, in charge from July 
14, 1853, to April, 1854. August, 1854, Rev. R. F. Young was again called and 
remained until March, 1859. During his second pastorate the church edifice 
was enlarged to its present dimensions. 

In May, 1859, Rev. William B. Tolan assumed charge, remaining until 
November, 1864. March 7, 1865, Rev. W. W. Case, resigned November, 1868, 
and was recalled in September, 1870, remaining until September, 1871. Rev. 
I. D. King, from April, 1872, to October, 1875, and Rev. Edward McMinn, 



CHESTNUT HILL. 435 

from January 1, 1876, to April 1, 1879, were in charge. The present Pastor, 
Rev. B. F. Robb, assumed charge, June 8, 1879. The church, after fifty years 
of life, is steadily increasing in membership, and has no debts and is doing a 
useful work in the community. 

I am indebted to Mrs. Jesse Roberts for the following : John Huston lived 
on the farm latelj^ bought by J. Lowber Welsh, at the first toll-gate above 
Chestnut Hill, on the left side going north. He was one of the oldest settlers 
of this neighborhood, being a surveyor and conveyancer. He was a Scotch- 
Irishman, who settled in Bucks county, having come to this countrj'^ in early 
life. From Bucks county he removed to this point. The property was kept 
in the family, keeping also the name until within the last four years, when 
Mr. Welsh bought it and has improved it by laying out roads and preparing it 
for countrj'-seats. The farm was in possession of the Huston family and its 
descendants for one hundred years lacking tliree days. 

John Huston was a captain in the American Army in Revolutionary days. 
He lies buried in the Abington Presbyterian Graveyard. He married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Christopher Ottinger, who lived on the Heydrick farm. 
Mrs. Heydrick was a granddaughter of Christopher Ottinger. On one occa- 
sioi) during the war, when courting, he rode on horseback to visit his lady- 
love. The British pursued him, but he gained on them, so as to have time to 
put his horse into a single stable, and bury his saddle and himself under the 
hay in a barn. The soldiers walked over him without finding him. The 
Hustons are a numerous family and are still largely settled in Chestnut Hill 
and Montgomery county. 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Depot site, of late years was in possession of 
Mrs. John Shultz, who was a descendant of Christopher Yeakle. 

Dakiel Snyder's old stone house, plastered, on the southwest corner of 
Chestnut avenue and Main street, is an interesting antique with its moss- 
grown roof Daniel Snyder was the son of Adam Snyder, who lived in this 
neighborhood. Daniel Snyder took possession of the story-and-a-half house 
about sixty -two years ago, when it was smaller than it is at present, two en- 
largements having been made since that daj^ His wife was Hannah Baker, 
of Norriton township, Montgomery county. 

Mr. Snyder taught school in this old building. He was previously usher in 
Charles Keyser's school. In his day several acres were connected with the 
house. He acted in the double capacity of teacher and farmer, and was 
also a magistrate and conveyancer, being known as 'Squire Snyder. A village 
library was kept in the antique house. He was a methodical and decided 
man, and took a personal interest in the advancement of his jjupils. He was 
a fine penman. He used to begin his stories with the expression, " when I 
was usher for Charles Keyser," which was an imj^ortant time in his life. His 
property was made by his own industry for the most part, and he left a 
valuable estate for that day. He died in the old mansion in 1858. He was a 



436 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Free Mason of high position, being secretary of the Lodge when he died. He 
was a very earlj' riser. After a meeting at the Lodge he spent the night at 
Barbara Roop's Hotel, at Franklinville, and was found partially paralyzed the 
next morning, and brought home to die. Mr. Snyder was six feet two inches 
in height, and correspondingly broad. His descendants still occupy the house. 
Children of the fifth generation of this family have been entertained in it.. 
The present residents are Mr. Joseph P. Johnson, and his wife, Mrs. Hannah 
Johnson, with their five children and Miss Susan Snyder. Mrs. Johnson and 
Miss Snyder are grandchildren of Daniel Snyder. A noted well of fine water 
was a feature of the place in Daniel' Snyder's day. I am indebted to Mrs. 
Johnson and Miss Snyder for these notes. 

Henry J. Williams, Esq., a lawyer of note in Philadelphia, deserves notice 
as a prominent citizen of Chestnut Hill. The Rev. Dr. R.. Owen, pastor emeritus 
of Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, edited his book entitled " Studies of 
the Epistle to the Hebrews." From Dr. Owen's Memoir prefixed to this work, 
we learn that Mr. Williams was born on Christmas Day, 1791. The famous 
Welsh preacher Christmas Evans received his name because he was born on 
Christmas day. Mr. Williams died in his 88th year. His social rank was high. 
His paternal grandfather was a Boston Puritan of wealth, and strong character. 
He was chairman of a meeting at Faneuil Hall, which resolved to prohibit 
the landing of the tea sent from England, which was a. first step in the Revo- 
lution. When Boston was taken by the British, his large store of goods was 
burned and his property confiscated and destroyed. This gentleman was a 
relative of Franklin. 

The father of H. J. Williams was General J. Williams, the first Superinten- 
dent of West Point Military Academy ; he was a useful and educated man of 
decided character. The graduates of the Academy showed the good effects of 
his influence. The mother of the subject of this sketch, was a daughter 
of William Alexander, Esq., of Edinburg, Scotland, a relative of Lord Sterling. 

Mr. Williams was born in Philadelphia. He received a military and 
collegiate education, and studied law under Horace Binney, Esq. He married 
Julia, the daughter of the eminent Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia. In 
1857 he bought a country place at Chestnut Hill and retired. He took great 
interest in the Presbyterian Church here, which was then young and weak. 
In old age he said : " I have been living on credit since I completed my 
eightieth year, for that is the utmost limit of the promise." He told his 
clergyman to let him know when he heard of any case of destitution. In his 
old age he made benevolence a business and loved to give as a privilege. The 
Christian Hall Library was his gift to Chestnut Hill. The Bethesda Orphan 
Home, with its two buildings, under the. faithful care of Miss Clement, is the 
result of his bounty. It is, like Muller's, at Bristol, England, a Faith Home. 
Mr. Williams left a bequest to increase its usefulness. At the age of eighty- 
three he entered on the work of preparing a commentary on the Epistle to the 



CHESTNUT HILL. 437 

Hebrews. His death was felt to be a public calamity. It took place on the 
12th of March, A. D. 1879. 

SUMMIT STREET. 

The street which runs out from the Bethlehem pike, probably takes its 
name from its elevated position. In passing along it, going from Bethlehem 
pike toward Stenton avenue, we meet with the large mansion of the Lorenz 
family on the right hand. There is an extensive lawn above it. The build- 
ing is of a light color, and a porch in front is supported by pillars which ex- 
tend to the roof of the house. This place is occupied by Thomas Potter. The 
next house, on the same side, is the pretty building of pointed stone belonging 
to Mrs. John Clayton and her place of residence. A tower with a pointed 
roof, and a tasteful piazza, a tiled gable and an angular bay window under it, 
mark this dwelling, while a pleasant lawn with trees surrounds it. This was 
the property of Judge Thayer before the late Mr. Claj'ton bought it. Next 
comes the estate of Charles Heebner, with its ample grounds. This is the resi- 
dence of Mi.ss Julia Heebner, daughter of Charles Heebner. Mrs. Taylor's 
cottage faces Summit street and the Reading Railroad. Mrs. Tajdor was an 
heir of Stephen Girard. This property belonged to Mr. HoUingsworth. 

Passing over the bridge which covers the Reading Railroad the large stone 
house of Spencer Jannej'^, of a tasteful moderate architectural design, is before 
us. David Webster, an attorney, formerly owned this place. Mr. Watson, 
the carriage maker, built the house. Mr. Janney has enlarged it. We next 
reach Thomas Potter's estate, where his widow resides. The house was erected 
by S. Sanford, of the Adams Express Company. The building is a large one, 
and square in form with a double piazza. An arch of stone leading to the 
porch, and a gable with two irregular dormer windows, give variety to this 
mansion. 

In returning, we will note on the other side of the street the beautiful place 
of Mrs. Richard Levick. It was built by the late Norman L. Hart. A strongly- 
built stone tower adorns the ujjper side of the mansion, and there is a bay 
window on 'its lower side, and piazzas diversify the exterior. There is a 
quaint roof over an iipper window, and the flowers beneath it add to the 
picturesque air of this striking edifice. 

Henry Tilge's place is next in order. This was the residence of Samuel H. 
Austin, Esq., and was built by him. He opened Summit street, as well as 
Chestnut avenue, and built a number of houses. He was a benefactor to 
Chestnut Hill, and a public-spirited man. A fanciful and pleasant piazza, 
with colored tile roof, marks the abode of Mr. Tilge, and there is a bay window 
on its lower side. 

The massive stone mansion, with its front door welcoming the incomer, 
without a porch to guard it, is tlie residence of Miss McCall, a sister of the 
late General McCall. The late George Weaver, the rope manufacturer, who 



438 CHESTNUT HILL. 

was a jsartner of Mayor Fitler, built this house, and resided in it. Next comes 
the place of J. B. Cowperthwaite, the publisher. A prettj' addition has been 
made on the upper side of this house. Then follows Miss Anna E. Biddle's 
gray stone mansion, with two dormer windows to relieve the monotony of the 
roof. Miss Biddle is a daughter of Nicholas Biddle. 

"We now reach W. W. Harding's place, n-ext the Reading Railroad, and just 
over the bridge which covers it. The fi'ont of the house is similar to that of 
Miss Biddle, which adjoins it. The Harding property is bounded by the 
Reading Railroad and Chestnut avenue, on the left side. The carriage en- 
trance is on Chestnut avenue. There is a small lawn in the rear. The Read- 
ing Railroad Depot lies just behind it, and the location is a good one for a 
newspaper man, who for years has furnished the readers of the Philadelphia 
Inquirer their news with their breakfast. The Reading Railroad Dej^ot is 
not far away, and a telephone makes the countryman who wants light and 
air a citizen, even in the liours after general business is closed. Few know 
the task of running a newspaper. I wish that all editors could have a cosy 
retreat when their brain work is closed for the day, and the incessant strain 
of criticism, and demand for noveltj^, had given place to the blessed quiet of 
the evening hour. 

After crossing the bridge over the Reading Railroad, the first place on the 
left belongs to the Richard Levick estate. The house is of a light color, and 
there is a lawn about it. We now pass over Prospect avenue and come to the 
late Rickard Levick's former residence, which is occupied by Samuel B. Stinson. 
It is built of Trenton brown stone. We have now reached Township line, 
which divides Montgomery county from Philadelphia. It touches Springfield 
township in Montgomery count}'. This is called Stenton avenue, and runs 
from Germautown to Chestnut Hill 

STENTON AVENUE. 

This pleasant highway bears the name of James Logan's Country Place, of 
historic fame in Germantown, at Wayne Junction. Stenton is a town in 
Haddingtonshire, Scotland, where it is said that Logan or his parents had 
lived. Stenton avenue leaves the Bethlehem pike just about the grounds of 
the attractive summer resort, styled "The Eldon." The first j^lace on the left 
is that of Colonel Alexander Biddle. A new wall was being constructed along 
the avenue when I viewed it. Pretty flower beds adorned the yard. The 
proprietor kindly allows strangers to share the magnificent view which 
stretches for many miles before the delighted eye of one who stands on the 
piazza of this mansion. There is a natural terrace, and the hills rise in their 
beauty in the distance, as AVhitemarsh is spread out before the delighted be- 
holder. St. Thomas's Episcopal Church lifts its dark stone walls and erects its 
tower on the same hill where its predecessor stood long years ago, when a rustic 
congregation assembled within its walls. May the glory of the new temple be 
greater than that of the old one ! It is beautiful for situation, and a landmark 



CHESTNUT HILL. 439 

around the country side. The Whitemarsh valley is a charming one, and the 
wide prospect from this piazza is one of the finest in the region of Phila- 
delphia. 

This magnificent and extended view of God's glorious handiwork exemplifies 
the force of Addison's words in the Spectator (No. 412), on the Pleasure of the 
Imagination : " The mind of man naturallj'' hates everything that looks like 
a restraint upon it, and is apt to fancy itself under a sort of confinement, when 
the sight is pent up in a narrow compass, and shortened on every side by the 
neighborhood of walls or mountains. On the contrary, a spacious horizon is 
an image of liberty, where the eye has room to range abroad, to expatiate at 
large on the immensity of his views, and to lose itself amidst the variety of 
objects that offer themselves to its observation. Such wide and undetermined 
jarospects are as pleasing to the fancy, as the speculations of eternitj' or infinitude 
are to the understanding." This property formerly belonged to that good man, 
and public benefactor, Henr}' J. Williams. The family who now own it are 
relatives of that Christian gentleman. 

A brown mansion among the trees next meets us on the left. This was 
once the home of William Piatt. It now belongs to the estate of St. George 
Tucker Campbell, and is occupied by the widow. 

We next reach the place of Mr. Kelsey, on the same side. The house was 
built by William Piatt, who resided in it after he had lived in the last-named 
house. Then John Welsh, .Jr., owned it for a number of years. Then it was 
purchased by Mr. Kelsej-. Birch Lane runs along the side of the propert3^ 
This is a sweet rustic lane, which in its wildness appears to be far away from 
the rush of city life, with its " madding crowd." There is a beautiful spring on 
this property near the lane. There are two basins to contain the water, and a 
countrj^ path and a miniature waterfall are striking points in the landscape, 
while overhanging trees add beauty to the scene. A stream runs along the 
base of the hill. The Kelsey mansion has a bay window on the upper side, and 
a stone porch adorns the front. The cattle feeding on the hillside, in the early 
morning, where the pasture extends along Birch lane, present a scene which 
would delight a painter like Rosa Bonheur. Beyond Birch lane lies the 
Bucknell propertj'^ and residence, and the ConsumptiA'^es' Home. 

THE CONSUMPTIVES' HOME. 

The excellent Consumptives' Home on Stenton avenue, due to the generosity 
of the Bucknell familj^, needs further aid, that it may be worthy of the place. 
Bethesda Home and this noble charitj^ honor the Hill. The following from a 
newspaper shows that the " Cottage " plan has been adopted. The sufferer 
must find it more homelike. 

Home for Comsumptives, Chestnut Hill. — After the successful plan for the 
world-renowned Consumptives' Home, "\''entnor, Isle of Wight, the " Cottage " 



440 CHESTNUT HILL. 

or " Separate System " was adopted by the management of the Home for Con- 
sumptives, Chestnut Hill, and one cottage has been built and was formally 
opened for the reception of patients. 

The grounds are ample to admit of the erection of other cottages, and it is 
hoped that several of these may soon be built bj' persons of means, as fitting 
monuments to departed relatives and friends. A cottage complete and ready 
for use will cost twelve thousand dollars, and all of which are built as memo- 
rials will be known by the name or names of those in whose memory they are 
erected. Donations toward the erection of cottages should be sent to William 
M. Runk, 1126-28 Chestnut street or Rev. Thos. J. Taylor, Supt. P. E. City 
Mission, 411 Spruce street, Philadelphia. 

The following is from the Standard of the Cross and the Church of Nov. 30th, 
1SS9: 

This beautiful charity, of whose edifice we are able this week to present an 
engraving, is a branch of the work of the Philadelphia City Mission, Rev. H. 
L. Duhring, Superintendent. The City Mission was instituted May 1, 1870. 
One of its objects was to provide temporal and spiritual help and comfort for 
the poor and sick. The neediest class of applicants for relief was soon found 
to be persons in some stage of consumption. In 1876, the first steps were taken 
to provide a Home for Consumptives. That year Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ingersoll 
gave the Mission the house No. 411 Spruce Street for its uses. The offices of 
the Mission are in this building, known as the House of Mercy, and rooms 
are fitted up in it for a small number of female patients. Other considerable 
gifts for a consumptives' home were a legacy of over $190,000 from Miss Mary 
Shields, and a house and lot in the southwestern portion of the city from Mr. I. 
"\''. Williamson. When the Board of Council had decided to erect a home in one 
of the suburbs, about 1885, a noble token of approbation of the work came 
from one not of our communion, William Bucknell, Esq., who gave his 
beautiful country seat, at Chestnut Hill, with its adjacent grounds, comjjrising 
about eleven acres, and valued at $75,000, to be specially used as a Home for 
Consumptives. This led to the preparation of extended plans for the most 
comfortable and approved sort of edifice which, with the aid of modern experi- 
ence and science, could be devised. The buildings now in use, and presented 
in this engraving, are the central building of the scheme, containing the 
ofiices, reception rooms, hall, chapel, etc., and one pavilion or separate cottage, 
twelve of which are intended to complete the group. The cost of these build- 
ings was about $40,000 ; each of the cottages will cost about $12,000. Messrs. 
Furness & Evans of this city, are the architects. 

A pretty descent leads the pedestrian down Birch lane, and a curve in the 
walk is attractive. Man loves these curves as they constantly surprise him 
with a new A'iew and relieve the monotony of long straight roads. Even 
horses seem to have a fancy for them, and go in a lively rate around a corner 
as if they would see what lies beyond. The wildness of the avenue is height- 



< 




REV. SAMUEL DURBOROW, 
LATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE EPISCOPAL 
CITY MISSION. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 443 

ened by the fact that the surrounding trees have been allowed to stand, and 
some grand forest monarchs are permitted yet to keep their place in the path, 
in defiance of modern so-called improvements. The woodman has wisely 
spared the trees, and thus this wildest avenue in Chestnut Hill retains much of 
its primitive beauty with its woody name. A portion of a maple trunk on the 
right shows departed greatness as it lies on the ground. It reminds one 
of the end of human life but an early morning church bell strikes as I look 
on it, and suggests a future life after death. 

Next to the Kelsey place we find the residence of Thomas C. Price, which 
was built by Clayton Piatt, the son of William Piatt, who lived there for a 
long time. Birch lane ends in Montgomery avenue. This avenue is pretty, 
but as the Scotch would say, it is " unco' short." 

The English looking house of John Lowber Welsh faces the end of Birch 
lane on Montgomery avenue. The position is a remarkably fine one for a 
dwelling. Mr. AVelsh is a son of the late Hon. John Welsh, who was the 
United States Minister to England. The mansion which he has constructed 
is an architectural one of stone that would draw the attention of the passer-by 
for its beauty. A piazza gives the privilege of a view of uncommon extent 
and grandeur. Chestnut Hill abounds in piazzas, which are equal to addi- 
tional rooms in a house. They are pleasant places to enjoy the pure morning 
air or to gaze on a beautiful sunset, and this rolling country affords so many 
exquisite views that a house should be arranged in such a way as to give 
means of enjoying them. 

In passing from Stenton avenue along Birch lane, on the right where the 
lane joins Montgomery avenue, is a house with an ivy covered piazza, which 
was built by Clayton Piatt. It was purchased by Lawrence Lewis, and is now 
occupied by Mr. Coit, of the Reading Iron Works. It is surrounded by a fine 
hedge. 

We now return to Stenton avenue and next below Mr. Bucknell's place, 
after crossing Evergreen avenue, and on the left corner of the two avenues 
named, find Redmond Abbott's place. The ivy-covered side of the house and 
the ivy on the rear chimney, climbing bravely to emulate the height of the 
neighboring trees, make a pretty picture. There is an extended hedge on 
Stenton avenue bounding the lawn. Amid the fine shrubbery on the lawn a 
child's tent shows a mimic encampment and the longing of civilization to seek 
the primitive state of simplicity again. Next below this place, on the upper 
corner of Graver's lane and Stenton avenue, is a property belonging to Jacob 
Uhle. 

Next on the left is Frank Alcott Allen's large place. The house was built 
some eight or ten years ago. It stands far in the rear of the street with an 
extensive lawn before it. The cottage has an abundance of windows to admit 
God's air and light, and suggests the Reverend Sidney Smith's bright saying : 
" Throw open the window and glorify the room." 



444 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Still farther on at some distance on the left is Bethesda Home. The Mili- 
tary Hospital was on Wyndmoor avenue, between the railroad and Bethesda 
Home, during the war. The house of Mrs. Conway, with its deep lawn, is on 
Springfield avenue. 

The Mower Hospital, at Chestnut Hill was the largest in the country. It 
contained 3500 patients. Dr. T. C. Brainerd was once in charge of it. (See 
Memoir of Rev. Dr. Thomas Brainerd, by his wife, p. 318.) 

Dr. Robert Boiling, of Chestnut Hill, was the assistant executive officer of 
the hospital. 

Dr. Horace Y. Evans and other physicians were interested in this good 
work. I hoped for a sketch of it from one of the Doctors but it failed me. 

We now return along Stenton avenue and at the left hand corner; where it 
joins New street, which used to be called Piatt street, we note the new lawn, 
with its growing trees, which surrounds tlie pretty gray stone cottage of the 
late William Arrott. Its gables, chimneys and piazza, with its flowers are 
pleasant features. Next to this place is the house of J. B. Watson, of the firm 
of T. Watson & Sons. The roof is broken by gables which give pleasant 
variety. There is a well-shaded yard and a pretty sloping lawn. 

Next on Stenton avenue is William Potter's newly-built house. The archi- 
tecture is quaint and striking. The tiled roof is all corners, gables and windows. 
The porte-cochere piazza, and red ornamental chimneys afi'ord a pretty variety. 
Striking little windows peep at you such as Hood describes in his poem : 

" I remember, I remember 

The house where I was born, 
The little window where the sun 

Came peeping in at morn." 

The upper roof of the front slopes to within a few feet of the ground. As Mr. 
Potter's house stands at the edge of Union avenue, we turn to the left and 
pass along that avenue. 

On the right side is the house of Joseph Patterson, Esq., a lawyer, and the 
son of the late Joseph Patterson, the president of the Western Bank. This is 
an antique looking modern building, M'ith shingle work on the exterior, such 
as may be seen on some old houses at Lewes, Delaware, near the sea. Irregu- 
lar windows are set in the gable end on Stenton avenue. The studied irregu- 
larity of this kind of architecture affords a pleasing relief to the eye, tired of 
the monotony of a house built merely to accommodate itself to the furniture 
which is to be placed in it. 

The next house on the same side is that of Judge C. Stuart Patterson. 
Yellow and brown colors on it give it individualitj^, and afford a contrast to 
the surrounding dwellings. The woodwork displays the cross-beams on the 
outside after the manner of Swiss and English cottages. 

We now cross Prospect avenue. and on the right reach the late Joseph Patter- 
son's place, and next the abode of John C. Sims, the son-in-law of Joseph 
Patterson. Joseph Patterson was the president of the Western National Bank. 



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CHESTNUT HILL. 445 

The house in which he lived is a pleasant and ample stone mansion with an 
extensive lawn about it. Between Judge Patterson's residence and Prospect 
avenue, on the corner of Union avenue, is the .pretty gray stone, ivy-covered 
mansion of J. E. Terry. This lies on the left in going from Stenton avenue. 
A bay window adorns the mansion. Mr. Brown has a house on Prospect avenue. 
Mrs. Henrietta C. Booth has built a small village of neat and pretty houses at 
the eastern end of Graver's lane. 

MONTGOMERY AVENUE. 

This avenue runs parallel with Stenton avenue in the rear of Mr. Bucknell's 
property. Next below the house of John Lowber WeLsh is the residence of 
William Henry Trotter, the brother of E. H. Trotter, who owns the pleasantly- 
located mansion on Sugar Loaf. The lawn descends abruptly to a rneadow- 
like ground below. 

AVe next come to the place of Thomas Stewardson. A double bay window 
relieves the form of the exterior of the house, while the roof is broken with 
gables. There are woods in the rear and a ravine. The gabled front shows 
the woodwork above the porch. The number of stone houses in Chestnut 
Hill is noteworthy. It is almost the universal material used in building, but 
quarries are close at hand and it is natural to utilize them. 

T. C. Price's place at the lower corner of Birch lane and Montgomery avenue 
is marked by a fine old tree at its entrance. A curve in the road makes the 
house and grounds prominent, as it faces Birch lane, and the ivy-clad front 
and gable render the sight a pleasing one. There is an abundance of ivy on 
the walls of the houses in Chestnut Hill, and this beautiful creeping plant 
adds much to the beauty of the town. 

North of Mr. Coit's is the residence of Mrs. Rachel Morris. It is a neat 
gray stone building, with a Mansard roof and an ivy-covered porch. An old 
tree that evidently antedates the house shades its new neighbor on the lower 
side. 

The place of Frederick Collins next draws the attention. The front of the 
house is inviting, with its second story veranda adorned with flowers as com- 
panions to the beautiful vines on the walls. 

Next is the house of Henry D. Landis. The stone front of this house is 
relieved by much ornamental woodwork suggesting Hawthorne's " House With 
the Seven Gables." 

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The following is a sketch of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rev. J. Andrews 
Harris, D. D., rector: 

Previous to 1853 services were held at rare intervals bj^ Rev. George Hop- 
kins, residing in Philadelphia. On July 4, A. D. 1853, it was resolved by 
Messrs. John Bohlen, Cephas G. Childs, Charles Piatt, Charles Taylor and 



446 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Thomas Earp, Jr., to provide for the worship of the church the remainder of 
that summer. Services were held in the little Union Chapel on Sheridan's 
(now Graver's) lane at Twenty-seventh street. The opening service was held 
by Dr. Kingston Goddard, on'the second Sunday of July, 1853. Other ser- 
vices during the summer were held by Dr. Richard Newton, Dudley A. Tyng, 
Dr. Charles D. Cooper, Charles H. Wheeler, Rev. Dr. Lounsberry, Mr. Woods, 
Dr. Atkins, and others. These services continued through the winter and 
spring. Col. Cephas G. Childs was a most efficient aid in this church work. 

In 1855, on the 18th of June, a meeting was called in the hall of the Read- 
nig Railroad depot, and the parish was organized and eleven vestrymen were 
elected as follows: John Bohlen, Cephas G. Childs, Charles Piatt, Joseph H. 
Hildeburn, Charles Taylor, Thomas Earp, Jr., Frederic Fairthorne, Clayton T. 
Piatt, John C. Bullitt, William Henry Trotter and Thomas Mason. When 
the charter was obtained eight was fixed as the number of the vestry. Colonel 
Childs became rector's warden, and Frederic Fairthorne, accounting warden. 
The services were transferred to the hall over the railroad depot, where they 
were held for several months by Rev. R. W. Oliver. On November 6, 1855, 
Rev. Alexander Shiras was elected rector. 

In 1856 a lot was procured from Messrs. Purvis and Webster, on Chestnut 
avenue, for $5500, for a site of a chapel. The stone chapel was consecrated in 
September, 1856. It has since been enlarged, and is now used as a Sunday 
school and parish building. It is a very pretty edifice. Mr. Shiras resigned 
in 1860, and Rev. William Hobart Hare, now Missionary Bishop of South 
Dakota, assumed the rectorship on Whitsunday, May 19, 1861. The corner- 
stone of the new church was -laid October 25, 1861, by Bishop Alonzo Potter- 
Sidney & Merry were the architects and builders. It is constructed of Chest- 
nut Hill sandstone. The church was ready for divine worship on June 15, 
1862, and was then used for the first time. The building cost $6500, and a 
debt of $4500 remained on it. 

In June, 1863, the Rev. Mr. Hare was granted six months' absence, as the 
phy.«icians ordered his wife's removal from the place on account of her health, 
and Rev. J. A. Harris took the rector's post for the time. Mr. Hare, however, 
resigned the parish for the same cause which made his vacation necessary, and 
the resignation was reluctantly accepted. Rev. J. Andrews Harris, D. D., was 
elected rector and assumed the rectorship February 7, 1864. The debt of 
$4500 was liquidated, and on October 15, 1865, the church was consecrated by 
Bishop Stevens. A stone rectory was finished on the church grounds in 1868, 
in which year the interior of the church was modified and a new organ pur- 
chased. 

In 1881, Edwin N. Benson presented the vestry with $5000 to improve the 
church building, coupling the gift with the request that a stained glass window, 
the subject of which should be " Christ Blessing Little Children," should be 
placed in the building. This made necessary the building of a new chancel to 
contain the window, which was finished so that service was held in it May 21, 



CHESTNUT HILL. 447 

1882. The architect of the chancel was James P. Sims, but his sudden death 
the day befoi-e the occupation of it devolved the decoration upon his successor, 
Wilson Eyre, of Philadelphia. The coloring_ was done by John Gibson, of 
this city. The window was made by Paine & Peyne, of Orange, N. J. 

The grounds and buildings form a pleasant picture on Chestnut avenue.* 
This valuable property is entirely free from debt. The present rector has been 
in charge for over twentj^-five years, a pleasant fact to pastor and people. The 
silver communion service of the parish, now in use, is a memorial of Eichard 
Norris, for many years, and at the time of his death, the accounting warden of 
the parish. 

The rector of St. Paul's Parish conducted a mission between 1867 and 1872 
inclusive, on Springfield or Wissahickon avenue, near Wissahickon station, on 
the Pennsylvania Railroad. In this work the late Miss Ellen R. Brown 
was a most efficient aid. A frame chapel was constructed in 1866, but on 
account of removals and other changes the w'ork was dropped, of necessity, and 
the property w^as afterward sold. A new parish building has been constructed 
on the grounds of St. Paul's Church to advance the good work of the church. 

REV. MICHAEL SCHLATTER. 

The Rev. H. Harbaugh, wrote an account of the Life and Travels and 
Labors of this remarkable man among the Germans. Mr. Schlatter was the 
descendant of an excellant family of St. Gall, in Switzerland. He was born 
in that town, Ijang between two mountains " on the bank of the Steinach," in 
A. D. 1716. He was the first child in the family and was piously instructed. 
He seems to have been confirmed before he was foiirteen j'ears of age, which 
was the proper age among the German Reformed. He became a communicant, 
and w^as a candidate for the ministry a few days before he was fourteen years 
old. He taught in Holland and appears to have been admitted to the minis- 
try there, and for a short time did clerical work in Switzerland. The cry of 
American emigrants for sacred services drew him to this land. He came 
under direction of Holland Synods to visit the scattered sheep of the German 
Reformed body. He had supervisory power, and sailed in 1746. He took 
charge of the church in Philadelphia and the one in Germantown, the aged 
Mr. Boehm, his predecessor, assisting somewhat. He also visited New York 
and organized a Synod. He visited the old country in behalf of the poor 
American churches, and went to Holland, Germany and Switzerland, procur- 
ing pecuniary aid and six clergymen, and seven hundred German Bibles. Mr. 
Schlatter published a touching account of the condition of the Pennsylvania 
churches in a book form. On his return this devoted man w^orked earnestly 
in his missionary and parochial tasks. The Americans were much encour- 
aged by the sympathy of their foreign Christian brethren. Some delegates 
came two or three hundred miles to get Mr. Schlatter's aid for their paris hes. 
Two men came from A^irginia, and we find Mr. Schlatter visiting Maryland 



448 CHESTNUT HILL. 

and Virginia. He baptises a redeemed negro slave and his cliild in German- 
town. 

Mr. Schlatter states the need of schoolmasters, and also appeals for aid for 
the Indians, that they may be taught the Christian religion. The London 
Society for establishing schools among the Germans in Pennsylvania made 
Mr. Schlatter their superintendent and traveling agent, and in his travels he 
hoped to assist both churches and schools. He labored for a fund for the 
widows of deceased clergj-. The project which interested the Coetus at last 
became a law. The King of England and the Princess Dowager of Wales 
subscribed to the school fund. The education, according to the good notions 
of olden times, was to have a religious cast. The Rev. Dr. William Smith, 
Provost of the College of Philadelphia, a distinguished Episcopal clergyman, 
was secretary. There was a feeling amongst the Germans that the schools 
were too much under English influence. 

Mr. Schlatter was a chaplain in the French war. He was at the sieges of 
Halifax and Louisburg in 1757, where the British broke the French power. 
He was one of the chaplains whom Mr. Harbaugh, quotes Bancroft (Hist. U. 
S., Vol. IV, p. 300), as thus describing: "There were the chaplains who 
preached to the regiments of citizen soldiers, a renewal of the days when Moses, 
with the rod of God in his liand, sent Joshua against Amalek." 

After Mr. Schlatter returned from Nova Scotia he is found at Chestnut 
Hill on the Cooms farm, near the Reading turnpike, residing on a lane. His 
place was called " Sweetland." Rev. Mr. Muhlenberg and Rev. Mr. Wrangel, 
the Swedish Provost, spent a night with him here. Here he lived quietly until 
the Revolution. Manj^ persons came to him to be married from a distance of 
many miles. He was popular among those entering upon matrimony. He 
often preached at Barren Hill and Franklinville (I suppose St. Michael's), and 
other places. The Halle Historical Records, in German, give notes about him. 
Hal. Nachrichten, pp. 865, 895, 896. (Hist. Soc. of Pa. Lib.) Mr. Schlatter was 
a British chaplain in the Revolutionarj^ war. 

When the British invaded Germantown he declined to obey orders and was 
taken to Philadelphia and imprisoned. His house on Chestnut Hill was 
entered and plundered by soldiers. His youngest daughter, Rachel, heroically, 
though but fourteen years old, risked her life to snatch her father's jJortrait 
from a soldier's hand and bear it away. The furniture was broken by the 
soldiers, and the feather beds cut open. The silverware was thrown into the 
well, perhaps in the hope of getting it afterward. The papers were burned. 
The coat of arms was rescued, and " the silver-handled knife and fork and 
silver spoon," used in the army, and some instruments which were possessed 
by his grandson, Michael Snyder, Esq., in Manayunk. 

Rachel rode on horseback to the city often during her father's short imprison- 
ment, to cheer him and convey provisions. Has the Germantown road 
ever witnessed a prettier sight than this damsel on her loving errand ? When 
set free Mr. Schlatter returned to Chestnut Hill. He sympathized with the 



• CHESTNUT HILL. ' 449 

Americans warm l}^ One son was a grenadier and another an adjutant. The 
" mob-like confiscation " destroyed much of Mr. Schlatter's property. In April, 
1788, he bought " a small home for £550." The first place must have been the 
one named in these sketches near the water reservoir; the second was at MiSs 
Harriet Benson's place. It is a beautiful spot. Mr. Harbaugh calls it a 
"summer paradise of cool shade, of trees beautiful to look upon, of fruit 
pleasant to the taste, of blooming flowers, and of singing birds. It was then 
simply rural. It is now suburban, and citizens enjoy it." The stone house 
on the Benson place was two stories high, and had a porch which was 
removed. Everything about it was anticjue. The old knocker remained. 
Some hardy poplars stood as sentinels to guard the house. This was the new 
Sweetland. Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg, the first Lutheran preacher in this 
country, sent in 1762 by the Very Reverend Court Preacher Ziegenhagen, of 
London, and Mr. Schlatter, were great friends. Mr. Muhlenberg was a leader 
in his church. The writer of Mr. Schlatter's life likens his closing days to 
those of a " venerable hermit sitting before his cave on the silent mountain 
side," with the glory of the setting sun on his face, with faith in Christ, sing- 
ing: " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear 
no evil." 

■ He was cheerful, and was loved by his neighbors, and " venerated as a 
patriarch by old and young." His appearance was venerable, and his counte- 
nance mild. His bushy hair was white, and hung down to his shoulders. He 
wore a wig, according to the custom of the day, " on public occasions," and 
always used it when performing marriage. In church service he wore a black 
gown and white bands on the neck, as his portrait shows. On a summer morn- 
ing he could be seen at his door, in his dressing gown, pleasantly greeting the 
passer-by with kind words " and a graceful bow." He " was a great friend to 
children," and was loved by them. The diffident found it easy to approach 
him ; hence bashful lovers sought him for marriage. 

Governor Mifflin visited him. General Joseph Heister, afterward Governor 
of Pennsylvania, was his friend. He was hospitable to all. His wife, who 
aided his life-work, was from New York city. Her Christian name was Maria 
Henrika. She is buried at Barren Hill. The day of Mr. Schlatter's death is 
uncertain. His will is dated October 22d, A. D. 1790. It was admitted to 
probate on November 23d of that year. An aged man in Chestnut Hill said 
he died in the latter part of October. He was in his 75th year. He was 
buried at Franklin Square, in Philadelphia, the German Reformed burying- 
ground at that time. Here he sleeps among his former flock. An account of 
Mr. Schlatter's children is given. Elizabeth, the oldest, lived to ninety-one, 
and died single. With Hester and Rachel she resided at Chestnut Hill. Eliza- 
beth and Rachel died while Rev. A. Helfenstein, Jr., was pastor of the German 
Reformed church of Germantown. These three daughters were buried at 
Barren Hill. They were highly respected. There were several other children. 
Mr. Schlatter displayed a charitable spirit toward other Christian bodies than 



450 CHESTNUT HILL. 

his own, and was " faithful to the trusts committed to his hands." He was 
industrious and persevering, and his memory is blessed. 

His name is met with in accounts of early times in Pennsylvania. In Watson's 
Annals (Vol. I, p. 452), we learn that the Gei'man Reformed Church in Race 
street, near Fourth street, was built about A. D. 1747, in an octagon form, with 
a steeple. It only stood a few years, and gave place to a larger one. It was 
built for the Rev. Mr. Schlatter, " who was from the Society in Holland." 

Watson adds : " His old journal I have seen wherein he states, that before 
his coming they were preached to hy a Mr. Boehm, a layman, at a hired house. 
When Mr. Schlatter arrived, he found 165 communicants in Philadelphia, and 
115 in Germantown." 

The Swedish traveler. Rev. Professor Kalm, said that the first church here 
named was like one near Stockholm. 

When a society was formed in Europe to raise money to teach poor German 
children, and provide ministers for them, the nobility of Holland and England 
patronized it, and noted Americans were " Trustees of the charity — such as 
Hamilton, Allen, Franklin, Peters, etc. The Rev. Mr. Schlatter is made 
visiting and traveling inspector and agent, and the Rev. Dr. Smith, our 
provost, was charged with the publication of a German newspaper." 

The states of Holland and West Friesland subscribed, and Amsterdam gave 
much. The General Assembly of Scotland, the King of England, the Princess 
of Wales, and the Proprietaries helped this missionary effort to advance the 
Protestant religion, and to teach the reading of the Bible, and singing Psalms 
and writing and casting accounts. See Watson's Annals, Vol. I, p. 257. 

In Scharf and Westcott's History of Philadelphia (Vol. I, p. 386), the 
plundering of Rev. Michael Schlatter's house by the British is noted. 

In Hotchkin's Pocket Gazetteer of Pennsylvania, under Franklin county, p. 
73, it stated that: "In early times, Rev. Michael Schlatter wrote that the 
Indians in this region were well disposed and friendly to Christians when not 
under the influence of liquor." 

See also the valuable History of Pennsylvania by Dr. Wm. H. Egle, the 
State Librarian, from which the Gazetteer is compiled. 

In Rev. J. F. Dripps's Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church, Germantown, 
on pages 11 and 12,- he speaks of the worthy and devoted Rev. John Bechtel, 
in whose ordination Bishop Nitschman of the Moravian Chvirch participated, 
and whose people built the first German Reformed Church building in Penn- 
sylvania. "Consecrated and fervent" pastors succeeded him, who came to 
this new land in a true missionary spirit. It is added : " One of them espe- 
cially, Rev. Michael Schlatter, was widely honored throughout the Province for 
his character and work by all classes and churches. He was to this church, 
what his friend Muhlenberg was to the Lutheran body." 



CHESTNUT HILL. 451 

"GRAYSTOCK"— EVERGREEN AVENUE. 

This avenue with its rustic name, runs at right angles with Montgomery 
avenue. On the lower side of Evergreen avenue is situated " Graystock," the 
residence of George C. Thomas, of the banking firm of Drex'el & Co. The 
mansion is an ample one, of stone, surmounted by an observatory, which is 
useful in the midst of such beautiful scenery. Mr. Thomas is well known as 
an energetic Sunday School worker in the Episcopal Church. He bought 
this place, w-hich is his country seat, of Joseph B. Dulles, a prominent 
Philadelphia merchant, in 1881. He had lived there for some twenty years 
previous to this date. Before that time the property was owned by Mr. Clayton 
Piatt, who commenced building the house, but Mr. Dulles purchased it from him 
before it was completed, and finished it. Since Mr. Thomas has occupied the 
mansion, Ardmore avenue has been opened through the grounds, apper- 
taining to it, and he has acquired the place on the other side of that avenue, 
which has the quaint and appropriate name of "The Gables." Mrs. Thomas's 
sister, Mrs. Caroline F. Moorhead, now resides in this house with her children. 
The place originally belonged to Mr. Houpt. Mr. Thomas has improved it 
very greatly since he bought it in 1886. 

Mr. Thomas's improvements to his residence were designed by Geo. W. & W. 
D. Hewitt, Architects, and subsequently Wilson Brothers & Co. The first 
named superintended and drew plans for the tower, etc., and the last named 
for further additions, mostly in the rear. Mr. W. C. Mackie was the builder in 
both cases. 

The name " Graystock " comes from a place in England, in which Mrs. 
Thomas's maternal ancestors, of the Gilpin family, lived for several centuries. 
There is something very pleasant and desirable in connecting these beautiful 
places among the hills of the new world with the abodes of old time in the 
mother country. 

The magnificent and varied scenery which meets the eye at this point, and at 
Alexander Biddle's, and John Lowber Welsh's places, and indeed throughout 
Chestnut Hill, should move a thankful and devout mind to praise God who 
piled up the hills and hollowed out the valleys, which in their light and 
shade, under sun and shower, covered with green grass, or shining with a pure 
snow mantle, draw exclamations of delight and wonder by their exceeding 
beauty. When the devoted Bishop Heber saw sublime glens and forests in his 
Indian travels, he says: " My attention was completely strained, and my eyes 
filled with tears ; everything around was so wild and magnificent that man 
appeared as nothing, and I felt myself as if climbing the steps of the altar of 
God's great temple." 

There is another interesting feature in the history of Chestnut Hill besides 
its scenery, and that is its rapidly improving architecture. The architects 
have done much to beautify this suburb, and to construct houses which should 
suit their natural surroundings, and also be comfortable homes. They deserve 



452 CHESTNUT HILL. 

great credit for their work, and it is a pleasant thought that as this new country 
advances in wealth its structures are improving. In an article on History and 
Geography, and their relations to each other, by James Bryce, M. P., in the 
Contemporary Revieiv, of March, 1886, we read : " It is worlli observing that 
you may classify countries and parts of countries according as they are stone 
building or brick building regions, and j^ou will be surprised to find the 
difference in architecture between the two. If you travel across Italy from 
east to west, for instance, you constantly get out of brick into stone regions as 
j'ou enter the mountains, and you will find the character of the cities alters 
immediately." 

If Mr. Bryce were to visit Chestnut Hill he would find it in a transition 
state. While the Chestnut Hill quarries have built its houses, and one gentle- 
man has sent for his home stone to build a house in Pittsburg, brick is also 
available, and brick and tile are crowding on the old material. What effect 
this change may haA^e on the character of the future buildings we know not. 

Next to Mr. Thomas's in the direction of the Bethlehem pike, is the house 
of Mrs. Morris, the widow of George C. Morris, Esq., who was also a man 
highly honored in the Episcopal Church, and a. member of the Standing 
Committee of the diocese of Pennsylvania. The house stands with the gable 
to the road, which makes it the more retired, and a little back from the street, 
as do the residences of Chestnut Hill in general, showing good taste in its 
inhabitants. 

On Evergreen avenue opposite the side of Mrs. Bucknell's property and next 
to the liouse of Mrs. Morris, is the stone, ivj^-clad house of Mrs. Vanuxem. 

THE RESIDENCE OF COL. GEORGE H. NORTH.' 

Mr. Stewart, who was interested in the erection of this house for Mr. Taylor, 
states that it was built during the year 1861. In the fall of that j'^ear it was 
sold to Mr. Horace Brown. Mr. Charles Taylor was the capitalist who had the 
house constructed. He owned a large quantity of ground in Chestnut Hill, 
and was a leader in improvements which adorn this beautiful suburb. Mr. 
Brown sold the mansion to Dr. Boiling, from whom Col. North purchased it in 
1883. The building is in the Gothic style of architecture, and is perfect in con- 
struction. The angles are exact. It has been greatly admired by architects, 
and has been by some considered the prettiest house on the Hill. The architect 
of Col. North's house was Samuel Sloan, the builder and contractor was Peter 
Hendel. This pleasant mansion of my friend bears the cosy name, " Our 
Home." The children of the owner, who roam through it, find the name 
well given. While it has been said that the French lack homes, the Ameri- 
cans have an abundance of them. Originally the old word " ham," from 
which " home " is derived, meant an inclosed place, and how many joys 
centre within those four walls which make a home ! It is a castle which 
shuts out the world, but introduces the joys of domestic life. The home-like 
mansion has just been re-colored and looks beautiful in its new dress of red 



CHESTNUT HILL. 455 

and green. TI:e location is at the corner of Norwood and Chestnut avenues, 
opposite St. Paul's Episcopal Church, on Chestnut avenue, and Mrs. Comegys's 
School, on Norwood avenue. The grounds cover about an acre and a half, 
giving room for a lawn, where children can enjoy an out-door life in summer, 
and also affording space to display the beauties of the mansion. There is a 
fine stable, and a greenhouse adds to the beauty and value of the property'. 
The head of Norwood avenue makes a fine location, for this is one of the best 
avenues in any suburb of Philadelphia. 

Col. George H. North is the son of the late George W. North, and the 
grandson of Col. Caleb North, who was an officer in the Revolutionary war. 
Col. North entered the army at the breaking out of the Southern war in 
April, 1861, as a private in the Commonwealth Artillery, served three months, 
and entered the service again as Lieutenant in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, and served daring the whole war, being honorabl^^ discharged in 
July, 1865. He was upon the staff of many prominent Generals, including 
Averill and Torbert. Since the war he has taken an active interest in the 
National Guard of Pennsylvania, and is the Adjutant General for Major 
General Hartranft, the C!ommander of the National Guard of Pennsjdvania. 

CHURCH OF OUR MOTHER OF CONSOLATION. 

Rev. Francis .Joseph McShane, rector ; assistant. Rev. John Whelan. This 
church was founded in the summer of 1855. The corner-stone was laid by 
the late Rev. Dr. Moriarty, who was in charge of the jaarish and then resided 
in Chestnut Hill. The material of the building is gray stone. The parish 
from the beginning has been under the care of the Fathers of the Order of 
St. Augustine. Dr. Moriarty was at one time the Superior of the Order in the 
United States. He died at Villa Nova, Pa., in July, 1875. He was noted as 
an orator and divine, and had been in various j)arts of the world in the ser- 
vice of the Church. Father Moriarty, held the parish until the completion of 
the first church, which forms the nave of the present building. He also con- 
tinued as rector for some years afterward. In the summer of 1868, Father 
James Darragh assumed charge of the parish. He was in turn succeeded by 
Rev. C. A. McEvoy, in April, A. D. 1871. 

The pleasant stone parsonage was erected at the beginning of Father 
Moriarty's rectorship. He loved to call it " The Hermitage," and the priests 
of the order are called the hermits of St. Augustine. A yard beautifully 
adorned with flowers lies between the parsonage and the church and forms a 
pretty feature on Chestnut avenue. The parsonage was enlarged under 
Father McEvoy in 1878, and the church had a transept and chancel added in 
1880 in his rectorship. Apartments in the basement of the new portion were 
arranged for parish day school purposes. 

Father McEvoy was succeeded by Father McShane in July, 1882. A fine 
spire was placed on the tower during his rectorship, in the fall of 1885, and 



43G CHESTNUT HILL. 

the gilded cross, lifted high in air, shows the emblem of Christian faith to the 
surrounding country. The parish school is taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph 
from the Convent of St. Joseph, on the AVissahickon. The land and buildings 
have probably cost about |oO,000. 

The Convent and Female Boarding School of St. Joseph lie on the Wissa- 
hickon, at the junction of the County line and Germantown pike. This Con- 
vent was founded in 1858 by Mother St. John. The Sisters of St. Joseph 
conduct it. The buildings are of stone in a fine location. They have been 
built and enlarged at great expense. The site was the old Middleton home- 
stead. A part of the Convent building was the Middleton mansion. I am 
given these facts by the courtesy of Father McShane. 

Mount St. Joseph Academy was begun in McSherrystown, Pa., and moved 
to its present beautiful site in A. D. 1858. The academy proper was finished 
in 1875, having cost $100,000. There is a library of five thousand volumes. 
The Church in Chestnut Hill is now adding a parochial building for schools, 
etc., to their property. 

The conformation of the rolling ground about Chestnut Hill renders it very 
suitable for building sites, and of late years the citizens have eagerly seized 
upon these points of natural beauty, and planted their residences on many a 
hillside. If the old residents could now look upon their former homes, they 
would scarcely recognize their old farms, as they are studded with bright and 
attractive new dwellings. I gladly acknowledge the great aid which I have 
received from Mr. Mackie in my researches in Chestnut Hill. 

Mr. Joseph Middleton came to Chestnut Hill in 1838. He is a brother- 
in-law of Judge Longstreth. He has kindly added some reminiscences to inj 
collection. On Militia Hill, are the old fire hollows which were used by the 
soldiers of the Revolution. One of the soldier's buttons with G. W. on it has 
been found in this locality. They were George Washington buttons, as the 
initials indicate. Indian arrows, hatchets, axes of stone and green stone pipe, 
of rare material, and Indian beads have been found here. Mr. Middleton dis- 
covered an arrowhead lately. At the famous Indian Rock at the AVissahickon, 
on Mr. Middleton's place, the last Council of the Delaware Indians was held. 
The Indian statue, which was a way mark for those driving by, was put upon 
its lofty site bj' Mr. Middleton. Tedyuskung, the famous Indian chief, used 
to visit at a house where Mr. Charles Newhall's barn now stands. Mr. Mid- 
dleton named Chestnut avenue Tedyuskung, and although the name did not 
hold, he hopes for its renewal, as it is a thoroughfare which leads to Indian 
Rock. As the Inn and the Creek bear an Indian name, it seems appropriate 
and desirable that this avenue, or some new one, should perpetuate the 
memory of one who wisely used his power among those who once owned the 
land where the white now lives in luxurv. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 457 

There are two mounds in one of the fields on this proiDei% whicli the 
owner wishes were opened, but perhaps it is as well to let the old secrets sleep, 
although the American is always anxious to find out everything. Not far 
from tlie house is an old barn or press-house. When it was built the corner 
of an Indian burial mound was struck, which contained Indian relics. The 
burial grounds certainly should be kept sacred, if we desire our own graves 
in future to be undisturbed, if a man would not like to see the new-made grave 
of his wife or child rifled, and if the opening of fresh graves is considered one 
of the most shameful acts. 

I append some notes of historical interest handed me by Mr. Middleton, 
from the Philadelphia Inquirer of December 31, A. D. 1881, and am sorry 
to add the notice of his death in the same paper dated October 19, 1887 : 

"ECHOES FROM THE INDIAN ROCK." 

To the Editor of The Inquirer : 

Sir : — ^A communication in your paper, some weeks ago, vtnder the caption 
of " Lo, the Poor Indian," asks for some information regarding the aborigines 
who once dwelt in the vicinity of the AVissahickon valley. I submit a few 
points about them : The monuments, or vestiges, of the Indians of the once 
powerful tribe (Lenni-Lenape) who formerly inhabited this eastern part of 
Pennsylvania, are reduced, as regards this neighborhood, to these three, viz. : 
First. The rocks along the Wissahickon, referred to by your correspondent, 
i. e., the Overhanging Rock, the Temple Rock and the Council Rock. They 
are about seven and a half miles from the city at Market street. The last of 
the.se, the most important, is near the hilltop skirting the northern bank of the 
Wissahickon creek, and opposite the Indian Rock Hotel. It is commonly 
called the Indian rock par excellence. It is arch-shaped in front, towards the 
south, and hollowed out like the apse of a church, with an altar-shaped pro- 
jection in the centre of the apse or overhanging rock, as if to serve either 
for a pulpit, or perhaps the chieftain's seat in council. 

This rock with the other two, was undoubtedly an object of veneration to 
the Indians. In the case of the first, a few years ago might have been seen 
covering the rough, hollowed rock many traces of Indian sign language, 
strange marks and figures in red claj^ or paint. They have been mostly 
obliterated by thoughtless tourists and visitors who frequent the spot in fine 
weather, attracted by the wild grandeur of the locality, and by the large 
figure of heroic size of an Indian chief which surmounts the Council Rock, 
sole guardian of the once sylvan home of his prototyjies. By the waj', this 
heroic Tedyuscuiig of word and deed, for it is a memorial of that valiant 
warrior, was erected about the year 1854, by Mr. Joseph Middleton and some 
of the citizens of Chestnut Hill, who now own the land on which it stands. 
The figure is seen' plainly from the Wissahickon turnpike road. Relics of the 
aborigines are still frequently found around the rocks and its vicinity, and 



458 CHESTNUT HILL. 

near by several mounds still exist and can be pointed out — one in particular 
near an old press house, until lately owned by the descendants of John Adam 
Piper, who bought it in 1705, and who was an attached friend of Tedyuscung. 
On this ground, adjoining the press house, a mound — tumulus — still exists, in 
which, when opened some years since, were found skeletons of human bodies, 
implements of warfare, hatchets, arrowheads, trinkets, beads, etc., all evidently 
denoting some ancient burial f)lace of the Delawares, of which Tedyuscung 
was principal chief. 

About four miles distant on Camp Hill, can be pointed out numerous 
mounds; there was also a grand camping ground for the Indians. Tradition 
has handed down a large amount of information of these lost races; but the 
facts above stated are undisputed. A word about Tedyuscung, the old hero of 
the place. This chief was known, after his admission among the Moravians, 
as " Honest John," although baptized " Gideon." He met his death from 
burning at Wyoming, in April, 1763. Up to 1758 he and the remnant of his 
tribe spent the greater part of their time around the Council Rock, on the 
banks of the Wissahickon, near Chestnut Hill — then called Somerhausen — 
frequenting the house of the venerable John Adam Piper. In 1758 the 
Colonial House of Congress, then sitting in Philadelphia, in consideration of 
safety of the Indian tribes, ordered comfortable houses built at Wyoming, 
whence they were all removed in 1763 ; but, unfortunately, in a drunken 
frolic, their houses were set on fire, and in the burning, among others, the 
noble Tedyuscung. Joseph Middleton. 

Chestnut Hill. 

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CITIZEN. 

"Mr. Joseph Middleton, died yesterday at his residence, " Woodside," Chest- 
nut Hill. Mr. Middleton was in the 74th year of his age. He had long been 
prominent in Roman Catholic circles in the community where he resided. 

His funeral is announced for 9:30 A. M. to-morrow. Services at the Church 
of Our Lady of Consolation, Chestnut Hill." PMla. Inquirer, Oct. 19th, 1887. 

Susan and Lydia Piper owned Mr. Middleton's farm before it came into his 
possession. Their father was a great friend of the Indians. The modern 
resideaice which now stands here was built by Mr. Middleton. There is an 
old house, stable and carriage house. Mr. Middleton formerly lived on the 
St. Joseph Convent property. In the neighborhood of Mr. Middleton's place 
are Mr: H. H. Houston's pretty stone cottages along Thirtieth street and 
Chestnut avenue. I regret to note the death of Mr. Middleton. Mr. Mitchell's 
neat architectural cottage is on Thirtieth street, near Chestnut avenue. 

NORWOOD HALL. 

Norwood Hall is located in Chestnut Hill at the end of Chestnut avenue 
and directly on the hill forming the northeast boundary of the Wissahickon 



CHESTNUT HILL. 461 

at that point, and known as Indian Rock. It is a notable example of the 
Tudor style of architecture and the onlj^ one of that style strictly, in the near 
neighborhood. The natural locale greatly aids the effect produced by the 
large mass of the building as it rises on the tower side at the head of a quite 
extended knoll, and the bounteous background of fine trees gives it the 
ensemble of a well-preserved manorial estate rather than of a creation of the 
present time, and the extended and beautiful views of hill and vale, green- 
sward and forest, with their ever-varying light and shade, please the eye in 
every direction. 

The estate belongs to Mr. Chancellor G. English, who purchased it from Mr. 
Josepli Middleton and others, and is noted historically as being the site of 
Indian Rock, a council place of Indian tribes in past times and also the scene 
of visits from Tedyuscung, a noted chief. Certain mounds here bear witness- 
to the spot having once been used by the Indians as a burial ground. From 
relics found, the near neighborhood, with this, seem to have been the haunts 
of the roving red men of the forest, and the principal charm of the place is 
that a few steps away from the new Hall and its modern life, one may enjoy the 
quiet of woodland scenes, now much the same as in the days of the painted 
savage. 

The designs of the architect, Mr. Pearson, of Philadelphia, have been well 
interpreted by the use of a local stone, quite rough, much of it quarried from 
the site of the building, and with the aid of hood mouldings, battlements, 
large traceried windows and other characteristics of the style used, suggest 
pleasing possibilities for the coming years, when clinging vines will find on 
this rough stone a hold to aid them in adding their leafy blending of base 
and crest. 

Entrance is made through the porte-cochere by a large doorway, the door of 
which is heavy oak, plain, with wrought iron hinges, and studded, into the 
Great Hall 25x45, on the right corner of the building, and extending the full 
height inside to the roof, the timbers of which are of oak, with arched and 
carved truss supports. This noble apartment abounds in wood carvings 
and tracery, has oak paneling on the walls 13 feet high, and an arcade on 
two sides of the second story forming one side of the passage-way to the apart- 
ments on that floor. At the northwest or right end of thi.s Great Hall, the 
main staircase is placed, with pierced and carved tracery work, newells with 
long carved ends, rising from successive landings, one of which is in the 
square bay front, to a balcony from which steps are taken thro' an archway 
into the rounded tower and thence to the second story Hall from which tiiro' 
the arcade before mentioned one may get the full effect of the main Hall, 
with its many windows and other features of interest. 

As one enters the Hall attention is at once attracted to a large Tudor fire- 
place on the southwest side, of carved red stone, arched, and flush with the 
wall. On either side of this a large opening gives access to the Drawing- 
room 20x23 at the Tower end, and to the Library. This Library is an im- 



462 CHESTNUT HILL. 

pressive room, 18x23 finished in mahogany, with stationary book shelves ami 
ample stone fire-place. The walls are wainscoted, and to the southwest a 
large square bay opening on a veranda, affords light and glimpses thro' the 
woods to the Wissabickon. On the left side of the Hall is the Dining-room, 
finished in oak, 26x29, with large alcove and bay, the entire apartment having 
high paneling on walls, and carved ceiling beams, arch-work, traceried screens, 
china cabinets and fire-place. Opening ofl" the left of this room is the Morning 
room, 14x16, specially arranged to receive the sunlight on winter days. All 
of these main apartments communicate with each other by wide openings, 
and the large windows in each room are arranged on the same axis so that 
one may have a vista extending thro' the house in any direction and so 
comprehending the delightful scenery in which the place abounds. Im- 
mediately adjoining the entrance is an office facing front, and separated from 
the Great Hall by a vestibule, leading also to the Butler's room. The left end 
of the house is assigned solely to the domestics' use in each story. On the 
second main story are the principal family sleeping apartments all quite large 
and opening on the gallery formed behind the arcade of the great Hall. These 
are supplemented in part of the roof .story by several guest chambers one of 
whicli in the Tower has a most superb view of near and distant scenery, and 
from which also a private staircase leads to the Tower roof 

No elaborate wall decorations of any kind have been used, but the Avails 
and ceilings are in quiet plain monotints throughout. The interior as well as 
the exterior has been designed throughout, to be in perfect harmony with the 
stjde of the Tudor days, principally because the site was a lordly one, and 
such a style lends its own dignity and simplicity to supplement what nature 
has already so well done, and as years add their toning down processes to 
the walls, and the ivy creeps steadily ever higher and more broad, the walls, 
the trees, and the sward will give, as time wane.s, new beauty to Norwood Hall. 

dharles Newhall has a modern residence on Chestnut avenue, at the end of 
Rex avenue, near Mr. Middleton's place. There is no fence around the grounds 
to check the view, and this is always pleasing. The side of the house runs akmg 
parallel with the side of the avenue. The foundation is of blue stone, which 
extends half way up the first story, terminating in a wall around the rear of 
the mansion. Above there is brick work, with square-topped windows, but in 
the second story at the end gable there is a triplet window, with a semi-circu- 
lar arch over the middle division, according to an antique style. In the rear 
part of the building there is woodwork above the stone. The porch in front 
is inclosed by a brick wall on two sides a few feet upward. An old orchard 
in the lawn indicates an old settlement before the building of the present 
house. There are trees still standing along Chestnut avenue which may have 
delighted the eyes of Tedyuskung in the old Indian days, which may not seem 
so far away when we get under the shade of the monarchs of the forest, and 
feel that it is good to live in the open air in hot weather, as did our savage 



CHESTNUT HILL. 463 

forerunners. I believe that a plastered log house stood near that of Mr. New- 
hall, "and that the logs were good when repairs were latelj^ made. 

THOMAS LIVEZEY AND JOSEPPI GALLOWAY. 

The following article, by Hon. Horatio Gates Jones was published in the 
Pennsylvania Magazine oj History and Biography : 

" Nearly one hundred and fifty years ago the banks of the Wissahickon 
creek were occupied bj^ mills of various kinds at all available places. There 
were grist, fulling, oil and paper mills. The most prominent millers were the 
Robesons, Gorgases, Livezeys, and Rittenhouses. These mills were accessible 
only by cross-roads leading from the Manatawn}' or Reading Road, in Rox- 
borough, and the Main street in Germantown. As early as 1745 the Livezeys 
had a grist mill just above where the Pipe Bridge now is, and that was only 
to be reached from Germantown by what is now known as Allen's lane. For 
many years a certain Thomas Livezey owned and resided at the mill, and 
cultivated a large farm, and on the hillsides had a vineyard, and, as was the 
custom in those days, made his own wine. No doubt it was good, for in 1768, 
Robert Wharton sent a dozen bottles to Dr. Franklin, who, in a letter dated 
February 20, 1768, wrote to Wharton as follows : 

" ' De.ar Friend, — I received your favors of November 17th and 18th, with 
another dozen of excellent wine, the manufacture of our friend Livezey. I 
thank you for the care you have taken in forwarding them, and for your good 
wLshes that accompanj- them.' 

" Mr. Livezey was a member of the Society of Friends, and when the British 
were in Philadelphia, and our troops used to wander about seeking provender, 
he sunk a number of barrels of wine in his dam in the Wissahickon, where it 
remained until the close of the war. Some of that wine was bottled and pre- 
served b}' the late Mr. John Livezey, a grandson of the said Thomas Livezey, 
until a short time before he died, in 1878. He gave me a small bottle of this 
Revolutionary Wine, which I shall deposit in our Society. 

" Mr. Livezey was a man of great prominence in his day, and for many 
years was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly. Among other members 
of the Assembly was the celebrated Joseph Galloway, who was one of the 
leading lawyers of the Colony. He and Mr. Livezey were warm friends, and, 
being full of wit, often joked his friend Thomas for living in such a hidden 
place as the wilds of the Wissahickon, so far removed from the busy world 
and so inaccessible. 

" Mr. Livezey had a large family of daughters and three sons. One daughter 
married -John Johnson, of Germantown, and another Peter Robeson, of Rox- 
borough. Two of his sons were named John and Jcseph. He died in 1790, 
and in his will speaks of his copj^ of Black.stone's Commentaries, which .shows 
he had some knowledge of law. The following letter to his friend Galloway 



464 CHESTNUT HILL. 

shows his wit and also his appreciation of the beauties of Nature, which were 
to be found then as now along the banks of the picturesque Wissahickon : 

" ' RoxBOROUGH, 12th Mo. 14th, 1765. 
"'Dear Friend, — As thou hast often cioncluded from the lowness of my 
situation that I must be nearly connected with the Lower regions or some 
Infernal place of abode, I have sent thee the following true description of the 
place of my residence in order to convince thee of that error : 

" Near Wissaliickon's mossy banks, where purling fountains glide 

Beneath the Spruces' shady boughs and Laurel's blooming pride. 

Where little fishes sport and play, diverting to the sight. 

Whilst all the warbling winged race, afford my ear delight ; 

Here are evergreens by Nature set, on which those warblers sing, 

And flowery aromatic Groves form an eternal spring; 

Refre^iing breezes round me move, which with the blossoms play, 

And balmy odors on their wings through all my vale convey. 

Those charming scenes — did'st thou dwell here — would all thy care beguile 

And, in the room of anxious fear, would cause a harmless smile. 

Here's innocence and harmony, which give me thoughts sublime, 

Litile inferior to the, place call'd Eden in its prime. 

Thus situated, here I dwell, where these sweet zephyrs move. 

And, little rivulets from Rocks add beauty to my Grove. 

I drink the wine my Hills produce; on wholesome food I dine; 

My little Offspring round me are like Clusters on the Vine ; 

I hand in hand with second self oft walk amidst the bowers, 

Whilst all our little prattling ones are gathering opening flowers. 

In this low station here I'm fixed, nor envy Court nor King, 

Nor crave the honors Statesmen crave, nor Cares which riches bring. 

Honor's a dangerous, tempting thing, which oft leads men astray, 

Riches, like insects, spread their wings and quickly flee away. 

My meditations here are free from interrupting strife, 

Whilst different ways, aspiring men pursue indifferent life; 

I see what cunning artifice the busy men employ. 

Whilst I this lonely -seat of bliss unenvied here enjoy. 

This is the place of my abode, when humbly here I dwell, 

Which, in romantic Lawyer mood, thou has compared to Hell. 

But Paradise where Adam dwelt in blissful love and ease, 

A Lawyer would compare to Hell, if thence he got no fees. 

Canst thou prefer thy Heaven on earth — thy fee the Root of evil — 

To this my lonely harmless place, — my Hell without a Devil? 

" ' Permit me from my low situation to thine of eminence, to do myself the 
Justice to say, I am with much respect, 

" ' Thy sincere friend, 

" ' Thomas Livezey. 
" ' I shall conclude with the words made use of to Zaccheus of old : " Come 
down — come down quickly," for I want thee to dine at my house.' " 

STONECLIFFE. 

In 1849 Mr. Charles Taylor, who was almost a pioneer in Chestnut Hill, 
purchased a few acres on the Reading pike and commenced building a stone 



CHESTNUT HILL. 467 

liouse, which was finished in 1852. It was not very large, but a beautifully 
designed English cottage, called " Norwood." It is now the summer residence 
of Miss Harriet Benson, who enlarged it, and changed the architecture. Mr. 
Taylor added acre after acre to the original purchase, until forty acres 
belonged to the Norwood estate. In 1860 Norwood avenue was opened through 
the place, from Sunset avenue to Chestnut avenue, and several fine houses 
were erected. 

In 1880 and 1881 " Stonecliffe," the residence of Mrs. Charles Taylor, was 
erected on a commanding situation. T. P. Chandler, was the architect. The 
site is remarkably picturesque, the view is extensive and charming. The 
wide prospect embraces the Reading hills, and a spur of the Blue Mountains 
is visible from the piazza ; while the whole White Marsh Valley, at the base 
of the hills, delights the eye of tbe beholder. This is one of the finest situa- 
tions for a dwelling in Chestnut Hill, or in any suburb of Philadelphia. 
The massive and architectural stone house would be a beauty and ornament 
in an}' country district, and a notable feature in the landscape ; but in 
this case the picture is enhanced bj" its setting, and the framework of hill 
and valley give it an especial charm. The view has been thought the finest 
one in Chestnut Hill, and amateur photographers often fasten it, that they 
and their friends may enjoy a recollection of it. This house affords views 
from the rear, as well as from the front. The grounds of " Stonecliffe " contain 
ten acres. The entrance from Norwood avenue, is through a stretch of wood, 
and its natural beauty has been much admired. Sometimes, in a rural dis- 
trict, each place has some jjarticular feature which calls the attention of the 
passer-by, but this combines several attractions as the architectural mansion is 
striking, and the views grand, and the grounds so extensiA^e as to rightly 
display all the attractive character of the surroundings. Mr. Charles Taylor 
erected " Edgcumbe," now owned by Mr. Charles B. Dunn. 

THE OLD YE.'VKLE GRAVEYARD. 

" There is a calm for those who weep, 
A rerit for weary pilgrims found ; 
And while the mouldering ashes sleep, 

Low in the ground. 

The soul, of origin divine, 
God's glorious image, freed from clay, 
In heaven's eternal sphere shall shine, 
, A star of day." 

— James Montgomery . 

Gray's Elegy in a country churchyard has stirred the hearts of generations, 
and even in this new land many a country graveyard wakes similar associa- 
tions. There is a poem by Rose Terry Cooke, entitled the " Two ^'illages," 
which naturally came into my mind in looking from the-Eldon day by day 
at the quiet old graveyard in view across Stenton avenue. The still village is 



468 CHESTNUT HILL. 

under our eyes. The farmers and their faithful wives, who arose with the early 
morning to drive the plough or perform the duties of the house, are no longer 
waked by the song of the bird. The village over the hill, where the new 
citizens dwell is astir with its hopes and fears. The Schwenckfelders, of the 
primitive days of Chestnut Hill, lie within tlie quiet walled inclosure. A little 
babbling busy stream, with mimic waterfalls, runs before the cemetery. In 
one part the water is underlaid with stones, which add to its beauty. This 
water changes like the generations of men, but the stream abides, and seems 
to sing : 

" Men may come, and men may go, 
But I flow on forever." 

In these lines from Tennyson's " Brook," does the poet allude to Horace's 
Latin Epistle to Lollius?— Ep. II, Bk. I: 

" Laliitur, et lalietur in omne volubilis aevum." 

The fable referred to was that a countryman waited for the river to flow by, 
so that he could pass over on dry land. 

In a translation of an Oriental poem, made by W. R. Alger, we see the wise 
Adi, with the youthful scholar and Prince Noman, walking where a river 
passed an ancient cemetery, and the tutor says to the pupil that the dwellers 
in the graves are telling the caravans that pass by that they too in time must 
die. 

The old graveyard before us is on the slope of a hillside, surrounded by the 
property of Alexander Biddle. A good stone wall incloses it, and shows that 
the living have not forgotten the duty of piety toward the dead. Some plain, 
low, ancient stones still keep their places. There are two German inscriptions 
of Christopher and Maria Jackel. The Heydricks are relatives of the Yeakels. 
Here is an inscription : " Abraham Yeakel, geboren den 14 Mertz, 1752 ; 
gestorben den 17 Juni, 1841. Alt geworden 89.Jahr 3 Mo. und 3 tage." A 
late burial is that of Amy Yeakel, born in 1808 and died in 1883, aged 75 
years. The name Jacob Neff meets us ; also that of Rebecca, wife of John H. 
Schultz, who died in 1881, aged 85 years. We will add others : Fridrick 
Eshamann ; Elenora, wife of Jacob Bauer, Maggie Shuman, 16 years old, and 
Sarah, under twenty, daughters of William and Barbara Shuman, sleep quietly 
side by side. There are said to be some soldiers of the War of 1812 buried 
here. As the Oriental poem has it in Alger's translation : 

" A furloughed soldier, here I sleep, fcom battle 

spent, 
And in the resurrection I shall strike my tent." 

E. N. BENSON'S MANSION. 
Architecture has been defined as 

" The art where most magnificent appears 
The liltle builder man." 



CHESTNUT HILL. 4G9 

The most massive and perhaps the most expensive residence that came 
under my close observation in Chestnut Hill was that of Mr. Benson. It has 
more the appearance of a castle than a private house, and as I gazed on it 
from my window day by day the effect was a pleasing one. It is not difficult 
in looking at such a structure to imagine yourself in " merrie England," or on 
the banks of the Rhine. This new country is rapidly acquiring the architect- 
ural beauties of the Old World. 

The position of this building by reason of the slope of the hill is a good one 
to display the solid masonry which forms the foundation of the edifice. The 
quiet old Bethlehem turnpike was astonished when this mansion rose and 
groaned and complained over the heavy loads of stone which passed over 
it for its construction. It doubtless seemed to it that the ideas of Christo- 
pher Wren were invading this land, and that the poor earth which in 
former years had merely borne the weight of the Indian tent, or the white 
man's log cabin must now support a heavier load. The gray stone mansion 
is surmounted by a square tower, and gables and chimneys vary the exterior. 
So English is the scene that one almost looks to see the sentinel standing by 
the massive stone gate posts. There is a porte-cocMre, with a pretty stone arch 
in front, and another at one side of the house. The stone gate-posts are high. 
The slope of the lower lawn is especially beautiful. 

This property belonged to the Piper family, and afterward to Joseph 
Howell. Mr. Bensra's first house was burned, and then he built this mansion 
in 1884. There is a picture of the ruins of the old house in Lippincott's Mag- 
azine, in an article on Germantown. Mrs. Charles Taylor's house, on Sunset 
avenue, may be compared with Mr. Benson's, as to massiveness. 

Mrs. Rae, the mother-in-law of Mr. Benson, lives in the gray-stone house 
just below the mansion which has just been described. This property formerly 
belonged to Mr. Mitchell. Just below this is the winding wooded entrance to 
the Bohlen place. Bohlen station, in the African Mission, and the Sunday 
school building of Holy Trinity Chapel at Twenty-second and Spruce streets, 
keep green the memory of a good man. It was at the Chestnut Hill country 
place that the earnest clergyman. Rev. Dr. Heman Dyer, solicited and obtained 
aid from the Bohlen family for the work of construction of a needed building 
for the Episcopal Theological Seminary of Virginia, located at Alexandria, 
which has no doubt been the means of much good in that school of the proph- 
ets. The name of John Bohlen must be placed with that of Henry J. Will- 
iams, in Chestnut Hill, as worthy of remembrance among the faithful workers 
for Christ and His Church. The account of Dr. Dyer's visit of benevolence to 
Chestnut Hill, will be found in his " Recoids of an Active Life," published by 
Thorn as. Whittaker, of New York, which is an interesting narrative of his own 
experience in various public positions in the church. 

There are several features of the country at Chestnut Hill, and the region 
around it, which make settlement pleasant and desirable. The ground is roll- 
ing, as is all the Pennsylvania suburbs of Philadelphia. This produces fine 



470 CHESTNUT HILL. 

views and affords good drainage, so that the building sites have a double 
advantage. In the White Marsh region the hills rise to quite a height. The 
vicinity of the beautiful and romantic Wissahickon creek, with its store of 
traditions, adds interest to walks and drives. St. Thomas's Episcopal church, 
and the German Reformed and Lutheran associate church near it, and Wash- 
ington's headquarters enliven the drives in the White Marsh section ; though 
the' Washington place is a little outside of White Marsh, yet it is connected 
with it in our historical ideas. 

The winding White Marsh valley is beautiful wherever its vistas open, and 
such vistas are constantly jsresenting themselves. The history of architecture 
is marked plainly in the stone houses of Chestnut Hill. The two little, one- 
storj', antique farm cottages where Stenton avenue joins the Bethlehem pike, 
are pictures of the early day when perhajas as happy a life was led in them as 
in the grander mansions which have followed — for the desires were less. The 
old pebble-dashed house next above the Eldon, on the same side of the way, 
which was for perhaps a half a century in the hands of the Streejaer family, 
who dwelt in it, is an advance in size and dignity. But a better example of 
the gradual advance may be found in the good, well-built old stone houses 
which are found between Cresheim creek and the junction of Bethlehem and 
Reading pikes. 

A more pretentious style of house arose when Cephas G. Childs and others 
liegan the improvement of Modern Chestnut Hill. His o-nm former residence, 
and the Norris house, and others on the Reading pike, indicate this progress. 
Of late many fine residences described show a farther advance; and who can 
tell what is to come next? The opening of the Pennsylvania railroad, and 
the frequent trains make the citj' convenient of access, and if an elevated rail- 
way should ever look this wdy the newer residences may find themselves 
indeed within the city proper, and a new " rus in urbe " may arise farther north- 
ward. But we need not look so far ; let us rather, like the Indian chief, enjoy 
what is before us, and cry with him" Alabama," which in his language meant, 
" here we rest." 

A prominent citizen of Chestnut Hill has called my attention to a valu- 
able article in the Philadelphia Times, by W. H. Whitty, one of its staff of 
writers, concerning the "Wissahickon region." It dwells on the vast and costly 
improvements that have followed the opening of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
The McCallums are spoken of as former land owners. The writer says 
that it has been said that the Wissahickon exceeds Shakespeare's Avon, and 
Wordsworth's Wye, " in sentiment or romance." On the John Welsh prop- 
erty, T. P. Chandler, G. T. Pearson, and Cope and Stewardson have furnished 
varied architectural plans for many new structures. Mr. Baiiy, Mr. Swope, 
Mr. Littlefield, James B. Young, Jolin B. Bell, Samuel W. Bell, President of 
the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, Henry N. Almy, Morris Dallett, Esq., 
S. Arthur Love, Judge Henry Reed, Mr. Stewart, H. F. Mclntire, Mr. White, 



CHESTNUT HILL. 471 

J. W. Ogelvee, William P. Houston, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Blummer, Mr. Loper 
Baird, Fenton Thpmpson and William Henderson reside on this Welsh 
property. 

The liouse of Mrs. Strawbridge on this tract is occupied by Captain Taylor, 
U. S. Marine Corps. 

Gustavus A. Benson's fine house near Carpenter station is noted, and the 
" very handsome house " of Nathaniel E. Crenshaw. Opposite this Captain 
James Hacker has erected " a light-gray stone house so pretty, so happily con- 
ceived and so fitted to its surroundings that it has been sketched by artists, 
has amateur cameras pointed at it every day, and has been illustrated in a 
number of architectural journals. It is the first house seen from the railroad 
approaching Carpenter's." A " picturesque bridge " and " grassy slope " add 
to the effect. Deanevvood is the name of the place. It is prettily wooded. 

Mr. Harvey has an Oriental house near by, with "gables and bands of 
broken-up bricks set out from stone, giving a very rustic effect." 

"Two very fine houses" near Upsal are those of Cornelius N. Weygandt, 
President of the Western National Bank, and J. Henry Tilge. Harvey Ellis, 
Mr. Mason and John W. Moffly, President of the Manufacturers' National 
Bank, have bailt very expensive and elaborate houses at Carpenter's. 

Clarence White, son of the late Dr. S. S. White, has "a fine house here " 
standing across the lot to face the corner. 

William McLean has "a very fine house close to Carpenter's." Tlie old 
McCallum mill stands near. It is idle. " The Carr cotton lap factories " are 
mentioned, "and their quaint and once elegant adjacent homestead that now 
forms such a picturesque spot just below Allen's Lane station." H. H. Hous- 
ton has built between eighty and a hundred houses. Henry D. Welsh's 
castellated, mediteval house at Wissahickon Heights' station is projjerly 
noticed. " It is built entirely of stone and copjaer, witli a fine stone porch and 
carriage entrance, and has tiled floors and all the late interior elegancies." 
Joseph M. Gazzan, son-in-law of John G. Reading, has a "fine new house " on 
Seminole avenue. Near by are " four fine separate houses, all large and very 
complete." At Highland avenue Frank L. Neal, William G. Audenried, 
Eugene Borda and Monroe W. Tingley reside. 

Tiie writer of the Times' article, which I have followed, runs back to Tulpe- 
hocken, and finds " four fine houses, all of .stone on elevations varied in archi- 
tecture, and with graded terrace and low stone walls, occupied by Mr. Will- 
iam Brockie, Miss Scott, Charles H. Scott and Naval Officer Henry B. Plumer. 

Four more houses are " at the same pretty station, facing the woods." They 
are " charming houses, not so large as some of the others, but all exquisitely 
arranged and of stone, with decorated shingles and slate roofs." General 
Passenger Agent James R. Wood, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, occupies one 
of these houses. Twelve new houses of brick and .stone on Wayne street, above 
Walnut lancj^are in pairs in somewhat of the cottage style, and light similar 
houses are opposite. At the corner are two "gray stone houses, with tiled 



472 CHESTNUT HILL. 

roofs, finished in mahogany, and altogetlier veiy fine. They are occupied by 
]\Ir. Davis and Mr. Grove. Beyond these are three very picturesque single 
houses, each different, overlooking the bluff. Several other striking new houses 
are close by, notably that of Edward T. Coxe, of gray stone and tiles, with 
terraces, porches, stained glass windows, and a fine approach, and beyond it 
that of Henry L. Townsend." This has a striking " j^orte-coch&re, massive 
stone arches, terrace, porch and conservatory." This writer should renew his 
observant walks elsewhere. 

" THE EVERGREENS." 

The roomy and comfortable mansion, with its ample grounds and surround- 
ing shrubbery, at the corner of Stenton avenue and Summit street, is the abode 
of Mrs. Thomas Potter. The house was built by Mr. Sanford. The brief of 
title shows tliat this land was a part of a tract conveyed by William Penn to 
Francis Daniel Pastorius. Mr. William Potter has a printed pamphlet contain- 
ing the brief of title. This place was a portion of the tract of land sold by 
Judah Foulke, High Sheriff of Philadelphia, to Matthias Bush, December 20, 
1771 ; thence in May, 1791, to James McCrawley ; thence, April, 1795, to 
Christopher Yeakel ; thence, March, 1836, to David Shultz ; thence, April, 1845, 
to John Krieble ; thence. May, 1851, to Clayton T. Piatt ; thence, December, 
1853, to William C. Taylor ; thence, in that same year, to Cephas G. Child ; 
thence, August, 1855, to Samuel H. Austin ; thence, October, 1855, to Edward 
S. Sanford ; thence, June, 1862, to Robert H. Gratz ; thence, June, 1869, to 
Thomas Potter. The house of Charles A. Potter was built on a portion of this 
land owned by Mrs. Thomas Potter. The name of her son Charles's house is 
" The Anglecot." It was built in the spring of 1883. 

THOMAS POTTER. 

Thomas Potter, a distinguished citizen of Philadelphia, banker and founder 
of the great manufacturing establishment of Thomas Potter — now conducted 
under the style of Thomas Potter, Sons & Co. — and prominent for manj^ years in 
public affairs, was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland, Aug. 17th, 1819, and 
died at Philadelphia, Sunday Sept. 29th, 1878. " The family of Potter, 
formerly of Potterstown, County of Fermanagh, is descended from George 
Potter, an officer who accompanied the army of Cromwell from England, and 
was compensated for his services in reducing Ireland to the rule of the Common- 
wealth b}' extensive grant of lands in the Countj^ Fermanagh. The lands thus 
granted were formerly the property of the Lord Marquis, Chiefton of Ferman- 
agh, who, for his complicity in what is known as ' the Great Rebellion of 1641,' 
was convicted of high treason, his estate being confiscated to the English 
Government. Under the Act of Settlement and Plantation of 1660 (time of 
Charles II), as may be seen in the public records of Ireland, George Potter, was 



[ . [. 'rill 'I' 




CHESTNUT HILL. 475 

confirmed in the possession of the lands of Oaghill, Mullinscarty, Carderghill, 
Tremern, and C'rome)', all situated in the Barony of Maglierestepha, County of 
Fermanagh, which came thence forward to be known and designated as Potters- 
town and Pottersrath. This property the Potter family continued to possess for 
many years until, as appears from a deed of conveyance now in the possession 
of the Right Honorable, The Earl of Belmore, K. C. M. G., of Castlecool, 
County Fermanagh, Abraham Potter, son of the above-mentioned George 
Potter, disposed of the entire estate to James Corr}', the son of a Scotch advent- 
urer and the founder of the family of the -present Earl of Belmore." 

This disposition of the paternal estates was the inevitable result of the heavy 
mortgages, which had been placed upon them in order to meet obligations 
caused bj^ improvident living, consequent upon the prevailing habits of the 
landed people of the period. 

The Potter family although their interests in the estates originally granted 
to their ancestor was thus severed, continued to reside in the County. No 
longer members of the great lauded aristocracy they, nevertheless, occupied a 
good position. Li the year 179], James Potter, at that time the representative 
head of the family, who resided in Ramaley in the Countj^ of Fermanagh, 
became possessed of a property at Rilaghquiness in the County of Tyrone. On 
his death he was succeeded by his son, George Potter, who, having decided to 
settle in the United States disposed of his property in Ireland, and left the 
County with his wife, three daughters and a .son Thoma.s, in the year 1828. 

George Potter arrived in Philadelphia with a moderate .sum of money, and 
in a few years was taken ill and died leaving his family but a small estate and 
limited means. 

His son Thomas had been desirous of entering the ministry, and his parents 
were arranging to prepare him for college, but the death of his father caused 
him to forego this cherished hope, and forced him at once to maintain himself, 
as well as contribute to the support of his family. 

He learned the trade of manufacturing oil cloth with Isaac Macaulej^, 
proprietor of the Bush Hill Oil Cloth Establishment, the main building of 
which was the original manor house of James Hamilton, twice Colonial 
Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania. 

Appreciating, however, the importance of a thorough education he devoted 
himself to diligent study at night under the tuition of his mother, and he 
acquired a broad and liberal framework of knowledge, the completeness and 
good purpose of which was shown in after life. 

While devoting his leisure hours to self-improvement and study, he gave 
such diligent and valuable attention to his business that in a few years he was 
made manager by Mr. Macauley. 

In 1838, though then but nineteen years of age, he founded the house of 
Thomas Potter — succeeded by Thomas Potter, Sons & Co. — and shortly there- 
after purchased from Isaac Macaulay the Bush Plill Oil Cloth Works, in which 
he had served his apprenticeship. In 1870 he sold Bush Hill, and purchased 



476 CHESTNUT HILL. 

the ground and erected the extensive establishment at Second and Venango 
streets on the New York Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, since greatly 
enlarged, and where tlie business has so increased that it is now the most 
extensive of its kind in the United States. 

Here the business is still carried on by his sons. 

Mr. Potter married, on Oct. 2nd, 1845, Miss Adaline Coleman Bower, a grand- 
daughter of General Jacob Bower, of Reading, Pa., who served as an officer in 
the Continental Army from June, 1775, to the end of the struggle for Inde- 
pendence, in 1783, and was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania section of 
the Society (or Oi'der) of the Cincinnati, and during the AVar of 1812 a Briga- 
dier-General of Pennsylvania Militia. The children of this marriage were six 
sons and two daughters. Four of the sons survive, and have succeeded to the 
business established by Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter's civic life was marked by char- 
acteristic energy and he held many positions of trust and honor in the city of 
his adoption. A brief list of these will strongly exhibit the esteem with which 
he was regarded by his fellow-citizens : In 1853 he was elected a Commissioner. 
Three years later after the Consolidation he was nominated by the Democratic 
party and elected to the City Councils, and was immediately appointed to the 
Chairmanship of the Committee on Schools (having been also a School Con- 
troller and School Director). Two j'ears later he allied himself with the 
Republican party and was nominated and elected on that ticket to the Common 
Council in 1858. In 1859-60-61, he represented the People's party in the same 
body. During these years he was Chairman of the School Committee and a 
member of the Finance Committee, and he took an active and leading part in 
all municipal legislation. He was especially interested in the improvement of 
the Public School sj-stem, upon which .subject he made several valuable reports, 
and was chietly instrLunental in organizing the paid Fire Dejjartment of 
Philadelphia. 

In 1861 he orginated and carried through, the ordinance for the appointment 
of a Commission to assist in supporting the families of volunteers in the Union 
army from the city of Philadelphia. 

He not only gave this project iiis untiring attention, but tendered his jnivate 
office for the use of the Commission. In 1865 and 1866 he was again elected 
to Councils ; was made Chairman of the Finance Committee, and was instru- 
mental in passing the bill which secured to the city the eastern portion of 
Fairmount Park. He was also active in passing the bill which required the 
City Treasurer to paj^ City Warrants according to date and number, which had 
the effect of bringing them to par and strengthened the credit of the city. 

The bill providing for the revising of the assessment of real estate also 
received his hearty and earnest support. 

Mr. Potter carried through Common Council a bill, which, had it not been 
ultimately defeated, would have proved one of the most important ordinances 
ever passed in the city of Philadelphia ; it was to provide for the passage of an 
Act of Assembly authorizing the public Squares at Broad and Market streets 



CHESTNUT HILL. 477 

to be used for the erection of an Academy of Natural Sciences, and Academy 
of Fine Arts and other educational institutions. ■ He had many opportunities 
of holding more ambitious offices and positions of public trust, but his chief 
pride lay in trying modestly but diligently to further the material interests of 
Philadelphia by every means in his power. Mr. Potter's intense devotion to 
his public duties and the demands of his private interests began to tell upon 
his strength, so that in 1868 he was obliged to resign his seat in Councils and 
traveled in Europe, where he spent some time vainly seeking to recover the 
health which he had shattered chiefly in the service of his fellow-citizens. In 
1S71, after his return from Europe, he was elected President of the City 
National Bank of Philadelphia, and held that position until his death which 
took place at his residence, " The Evergreens," Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, 
Sunday, September 29, 1878. The value of his services to the Bank can best 
be recorded by giving extracts from the minutes of the Board of Directors, and 
from the Resolutions passed by the Philadelphia Clearing-House Association, 

Mr. Potter was alike distinguished for his public and private virtues and 
evinced his interest in whatever cause he espoused by his zeal and devotion 
to it. 

In private life he was a friend of the poor, a guide and counsellor to the 
j'oung and dependent, a successful man of business, above all, a man of strict 
integrity, a sincere and earnest Christian. 

He was unremitting in his attention to the interests of the Bank, and, in the 
conduct of its affairs, always exhibited that union of sound judgment, calm 
temper and courtesy of manner that marked his success through life. 

He was equally true to the many public trusts with which he was honored, 
and in his death the city loses one of its best and purest citizens. His whole 
life commands admiration and should incite both old and young to emulate 
and imitate his many virtues. 

The following is the resolution of the Clearing House Association : 

" In the decease of our valued friend and associate, Mr. Thomas Potter, this 
Association has sustained the loss of one who, for the last seven years, has 
enlightened our counsels and honored our membership, and we desire to testify 
our appreciation of his exalted character as a man of strict integrity and high 
personal honor, whose mind was ever ready to meet the most difficult question 
presented for our consideration. He was one of our most public spirited 
citizens, always faithful and trusted, ever pure and true." 

The following extract from the pen of Hon. Henry .J. Williams, summarizes 
briefly and makes plainly evident the high standard of his life and character 
as a man : 

" Mr. Potter was born in Ireland but came with his parents to this country 
when only ten year? old and has been a resident of Philadelphia from that 
time to the day of his death. His activity, enterprise and sound judgment 
made him very -successful in his business and he soon realized a large fortune 
which he employed with great liberality in the service of his Master. He held 



478 CHESTNUT HILL. 

many positions of trust and responsibility in our municipal and financial cor- 
porations and has left behind him the character of a Christian gentleman, 
remarkable for his purity, uprightness and generosity ; without a stain to dim 
its lustre. He was gentle and courteous in his manner ; kind and affectionate 
in his disposition ; earnest and indefatigable in his efforts to promote the 
cause of his Divine Master, and using his great wealth with great liberality for 
the benefit of religion. 

" Like the centurion of old he built at his own expense a church for his 
workmen and their families, and was also a munificent contributor to almost 
every institution of religion and charity." 

Mr. Potter was baptized in the Episcopal Church, but soon thereafter 
became a Presbyterian ; yet all through his life, he was very catholic in his 
religious belief; with him the name signified but little; the life everything. 
In early life he connected himself with the Presb3^terian Church at Seventeenth 
and Filbert sti'eets (Dr. Gilbert's) and in a few years was made Ruling Elder, 
and Superintendent of the Sunday School ; both of which positions he held for 
many years. 

He was subsequently with M. W. Baldwin, Esq., and others, the founders of 
the Presbyterian Church at Broad and Green streets (Dr. Adams's). 

He was always distinguished as a cheerful and earnest worker, a most liberal 
giver, and a man of singular purity of life. 

In late years it was his custom to publicly address his workmen, and 
their families, in the Lyceum at Franklinville, on both moral and religious 
subjects. Until his death he was an active member, Ruling Elder, and Sunday 
School teacher in the Presbyterian Church at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. 

(George Albert Lewis.) 

The riding in the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill was not as eaSy in old 
times as to-day. An old resident of Germantown has spoken to me of the 
vividness with which he remembered a description of a night ride in the hills, 
when a lady and her companion found the horse stopping suddenly on the 
edge of a precipice. 

Cresheim introduced a German name. A friend has handed me the follow- 
ing list, which may be useful to those seeking new names for places : — Kriegs- 
heim, Home of the War or War's home ; Kriegersheim, Home of the Warrior ; 
Kreisheim, Home Circle; Greisheim, Home of the Soil (old man) ; Kreuzheim, 
Home Cross ; Greuzheim, Home on the Border. 

The Ottingers and Heilicks were old families who lived near Chestnut Hill. 

Those wishing to locate points in Germantown can consult Hopkins's Atlas. 
The Atlas gives streets and plots of ground with the owners' names. It is a 
good-sized volume, and may be found at the Mercantile Library. If any wish 
to pursue the history of Germantown farther they will find " The Ghost of 
Chew's Wall," by Oliver Oldfellow, with the signature (G.,) in Graham's Maga- 
zine, Vol. XIX, p. 194, etc. ^It is interesting and can be seen at the library of the 



CHESTNUT HILL. 479 

Historical Society of Pennslyvania, Thirteenth and Locust streets. " The 
Germantown Battle Ground " is the subject of another article in the same 
magazine, Vol. XXV, p. 17. 

In the most interesting manuscript journal of Rev. Dr. Joseph Pilmoor, at 
the Methodist book store in Philadelphia, there are some .valuable notes about 
Germantown and Chestnut Hill. The writer of the journal came here with 
Richard Boardman, sent by Wesley as the first two Methodist preachers 
who came to this country. Dr. Pilmoor afterward took orders in the 
Episcopal Church, and was rector of old St. Paul's, in Third street, and is 
buried under that church. He notes that he preached on Christ Crucified at 
the Lutheran Church in Germantown. He afterward preached in the Presby- 
terian Church in the same place. He was a powerful preacher. Of Chestnut 
Hill he writes : "At eleven I had a vast congregation assembled at Chestnut 
Hill (a place about ten miles from Philadelphia), so I began immediately and 
discoursed to them on the words of the Baptist: 'Flee from the wrath to 
come.' The fine spreading oaks formed a noble canopy over us and we were 
as happy in the grove as if we had been in the most pompous temple." He 
preaches again in the grove at Chestnut Hill and it was a solemn and instruc- 
tive service. He preached a third time in the grove. One would like to know 
where the grove stood that resounded to the words of God. As Bryant writes : 

" The groves were God's first temples." 

The Schwenkfelders have been mentioned in connection with Chestnut 
Hill. They seem to have had the earliest Sunday Schools in Pennsylvania. 
From tlieir first settlement here in A. D. 1734 they devoted every other Sunday 
to the religious instruction of children, which instruction they styled " die 
Kinderlehr." 

The Hon. Horatio Gates Jones has some books which were printed by 
Samuel Saur. 

A branch of Tunkers settled in Creyfield. Of this society a company came 
with Peter Becker to Pennsylvania in 1719. They settled in Geimantown, 
where their numbers increased. They gained accessions along the Wissahickon 
and in Lancaster county. In 1723, those that lived in Germantown and along 
the Wissahickon formed themselves into a united community, and chose Peter 
Becker for their official baptizer. He, with some others, visited the scattered 
brethren in Lancaster county in November, 1734, and collected and formed 
them into a distinct society near the Pecquea creek. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The Chestnut Hill and Montgomery Neivs was published weekly on Saturdays. 
Its first issue was in 1882. It is no longer issued. See Scharf and Westcott's 
Philadelphia, Vol. Ill, p. 2065. 

Tlie Weekly Recorder was " issued by the cyclostyle process," and " edited and 
published by Porter F. Cope, Harry B. Boiling, Henry Cochran," when I visited 



480 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Chestnut Hill it gave local news and church and library affairs, not omitting base 
ball matters, including the Eldon and Wissahickon waiters' game. The number 
before me, published in 1886, recommends the Debating Society of the Young 
Men's Christian Association in the city as helpful to mental improvement. 
There were a number of advertisements. The paper was the work of some 
earnest lads, who were getting experience in this venture which will aid them 
in after life. It made a very creditable appearance, and they merit praise for 
the publication. 

The Chestnut Hill Reporter was the continuation of the Recorder. It is no 
longer published. Portfer Cope was the publisher. 

Edward Harding, son of W. W. Harding, editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, 
put out a paper with the lively name of llie Squeak Hawk in the year 1886, but 
it has ceased to exist. 

An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer of August 30, A. D. 1887, gives some 
interesting notes on Chestnut Hill, which it styles " Philadelphia's prettiest 
suburb." It quotes the verdict of a traveled European gentleman, who 
declared as to its scenery : " I never looked upon a lovelier scene than this." 

The improvements made by a gentleman who purchased of John Lowber 
AVelsh over twenty acres of land near the Erdenheim Stock Farm are men- 
tioned. A good part of this land is " near the Wissahickon drive." A fine 
mansion has been built on a part of this property by John Morris. 

The White estate, containing about twenty acres, at Main street and Chestnut 
avenue, has been bought by Mr. Goodman to be divided into building lots. 

An elegant house to be erected opposite Charles A. Newhall's, at Chestnut 
avenue and Thirty-first street, is noted. I think that the old Norman log 
house stands near this point. Mr. Samuel Y. Heebner's residence on Highland 
avenue is spoken of. 

" The Chestnut Hill branch of the Bank of America," on Main street, had 
bought ground of Backenhurst & Co., joining the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, 
for erecting a fine building. 

Mr. H. H. Houston's deer park, green-houses and his large collection of roses 
come in for attention. 

The " Trustworthy Police Force " consists " of eleven patrolmen, under 
command of Police Sergeant J. S. Currier, a very capable officer," and inti- 
mately conversant with the surrounding country. The district is four and a 
half miles on Main street, and is three miles wide. 

Among prominent residents are Hon. Richard Vaux, ex-Mayor, who used 
to walk into the city, eleven or twelve miles, daily ; Samuel Hollingsworth, of 
Summit avenue ; Joim H. Mitchener, of Township line, near Evergreen avenue ; 
Gen. Russell Thayer, Superintendent of Fairmount Park, who lives on Twenty- 
ninth street, near Highland avenue ; Hon. Furman Shepherd, residing on New 
street, near Prospect avenue ; S. M. Janney, on Prospect avenue, near Summit 
street ; Joseph Baker, Evergreen avenue ; J. E. Terry, Union avenue. " Samuel 
Goodman, Bethlehem pike and Summit street ; Alfred C. Harrison, Reading 



■SIS. 



CHESTNUT HILL; 483 

pike, and F. 0. Allen, on Township line," are named among other prominent, 
citizens who have already been mentioned in these sketches. 

The old stone house on Evergreen avenue, not far from the Pennsylvania 
Railroad depot, where Washington stopped, receives attention, and the tradition 
is given that the bodies of dead American soldiers were carried into the house 
on the retreat, and that the British destroyed everything in the house excepting 
an old clock, which is still preserved. 

CALEB' COPE. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer of May 14, A. D. 1888, had a long sketch of this 
good man, which I will condense. He died on May 1'2, 1888. Born in 1797, 
in Greensburg, Pa., and losing his father in infancy, he early entered a store in 
the town. At eighteen he came to Philadelphia to the counting house of his- 
uncles, Isreal & Jasper Cope. A third uncle, Thomas P. Cope, came to this city 
in 1786. The^'^ were in the East India trade. 'The young man became a 
partner when the firm was changed to Mendenball & Cope. In 1821 the Liver- 
pool packet line began. The firm was very successful and various vessels 
were added to their trade. In 1838 Mr. Cope married Miss Abbie Ann Cope. 
In 1839 he was Director of the LTnited States Bank, when Nicholas Biddle was 
President, and acted as President in Mr. Biddle's absence. He was one of the 
Managers of the Philadelphia Saving Fund, and a Director of the Academy of 
Fine Arts. He once owned the Spring Brook property at Holmesburg, now 
the Forrest Home. George H. Stuart, afterward owned it. Mr. Cope was a 
member of the Horticultural Society and loved flowers, and his conservatory, 
with its Victoria Regia, was famous. He lived at 718 Spruce street. After 
giving up Spring Brook he purchased the place at Chestnut Hill and exercised 
hospitality in his country seat. His excellent wife died in 1845. Just before 
1857 the partnership of the famous "three C's" (Caleb Cope & Co.) was 
formed. Hemy C. Howell, who became Sheriff, and Buck'Johnstone, were 
his partners. They built an elaborate building of granite on Market street. 
They did the largest dry goods business of any house in the city. Mr. Cope 
had a wide business acquaintance in the city, and had known personally 
every President since Jefferson. In 1857 the panic embarrassed Mr. Cope. 
Sfiir 1 and William Welsh loaned him a goodly sum, and in time he paid 
■'lo obligations in general. He was in the Board of Trade, the Sanitary 
Commission, the Pennsylvania Hospital, the Institution for the Blind, the 
Academy of Natural Sciences, and other institutional boards. He was very 
bencA^olent. " He was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church," in the city. 
Mr. Cope celebrated his 90th birthday at Chestnut Hill. This benevolent 
man was beloved and greatly respected by his countrj^ neighbors for his 
many kind acts. His death at ninety-one years of age was attributed to 
" general debility." Inflammatory rheumatism attacked him in the February 
preceding his death, though he rallied and appeared "bright and cheerful." 



484 CHESTNUT HILL. 

His closing illness was not painful. " Mrs. Cope and his sons, Caleb F. and 
Porter F. Cope, were with him to the last." A good test of a man's character 
is evinced by the testimony of those employed by him. I have been much 
struck by the love and veneration shown by a man who was long in his 
employ, in speaking of him. At the time of his death Mr. Cope was the 
President of that old and useful institution, " The Philadelphia Saving Fund 
Society." 

RESIDENCE OF MR. WILLIAM POTTER. 

The striking architectural mansion, of which a cut is here shown, on the cor- 
ner of Township line and Graver's lane, was built in the spring of 1884. The 
architect was George N. Pearson. It was described in a previous article of 
this series (See Page 444 of this volume). 

" THE ANGLECOT," RESIDENCE OF MR. CHARLES A. POTTER. 

" All up and down, and here and there, 
With who knows what of round and square, 
Stuck on at random everywhere ; 
Indeed a house to make one stare, 
All corners and all gables." 

This poem is quoted to express the astonishment with which I greeted the 
ver}^ pretty, but very quaint house of Mr. Charles A. Potter, at the corner of 
Prospect and Evergreen avenues. The position of the house is a good one for 
displaying its unique beauty, at the junction of two avenues, and so arranged 
as to command both. A nice lawn extends itself before the mansion. The 
tile and shingle work on the exterior, the front gables and the quaint little 
balcony, and the upper front gable, and the sun dial, has each a peculiar 
charm of its own. One front gable bursts out from the other. There is a 
half-door at the front entrance, and a rustic seat in the front balconj'. Any 
one of the peculiar features of this dwelling would give a character to a house, 
but in combination they are like the characteristics of a great man who excels 
his neighbors in many ways. This strikes me as one of the quaintest and 
most picturesque houses in Chestnut Hill, and it is welcome in the variety 
which it gives. The material is brick below and tiles and shingles above. 
The shingles have an ancient look. There is a hipped-roof on a side gable. 
The front of the second story projects over the lower one. The house stands 
across the front of both Evergreen and Prospect avenues. One of the front 
gables is finished in white color. The building is a regular antique. A long, 
narrow window, one pane wide, cuts the bricks and shingles of the lower side 
of the front of the house. The windows are square-topped with black sash, 
though one upper front window is curved. This house reminds us of the new 
house of the great Dutch artist Alma Tadema, in London. It is described in 
a newspaper thus : " Its exterior presents in little bits nearly all the styles of 



CHESTNUT HILL. 487 

all the ages, from the days of classic glory to the present time." Within this 
house the studio is beautiful and artistic, according to an illustrated volume 
which describes it. 

The house of A. Grove, Jr., at Wyndmoor avenue, also deserves notice. 

Opposite this house Mr. Bradley has a square, light colored stone house, 
with a Grecian pillared piazza, which gives another style of architecture. It 
is pleasant sometimes to see the old pillars like those of the porch, where the 
Stoic philosophers were wont to walk in ancient days. 

A water color sketch of a view of Chestnut Hill from the Bethlehem pike in 
1840, by George W. Holmes, shows an almost open country as far as the eye 
can reach. The original is in possession of Furman Shepherd, Esq., who pre- 
sented a copy of it to Rev. Dr. Harris, in whose study I have had tlie pleasure 
of viewing it. But two or three old farm houses appear, one of which was 
destroyed to make way for the round-house of the Heading Railroad a year or 
two ago. 

More than thirty years ago, William Piatt came from the city to Chestnut 
Hill and bought the property on Stenton .avenue, next above that of Colonel 
Biddle. Mr. Buck was about this time the owner of the Biddle place, which 
was afterward bought by Henry J. Williams, Esq. 

Dr. Pepper, who married a daughter of Mr. Piatt, built the house now 
occupied by Mr. Bucknell. He sold it to F. B. Gowen, who, in turn, sold it to 
Mr. Bucknell. 

John Bohlen purchased a large tract of land on the Bethlehem pike, 
opposite the Eldon, and built a mansion there. The old farmhouse on that 
property is just below the toll-gate. William Streeper formerly owned it. 

Charles Taylor built a house on the Reading pike and called it " Norwood," 
hence the name of the avenue. This is now Miss Harriet S. Benson's place. 
Mr. Charles Taylor's widow afterward built the massive stone house between 
Norwood avenue and the Reading pike. There were woods on the north of 
the old place. Did this suggest the name " Norwood?" 

The site of Mrs. Comegys's and Miss Bell's Young Ladies' School was 
occupied by Justus Donat, a brother of the inn-keeper, and was owned by 
Charles Taylor. A pretty old farmhouse, built of stone, well-shaded, stood on 
this place, but it h^s disappeared. Mrs. Comegys's house is a pleasant one. 
It is clad with vines, and the lawn contains a terrace which slopes along its 
lower side. The gentlemen who have been named as the builders of these 
houses which have been mentioned were the first city colony which settled in 
Chestnut Hill. 

Colonel Cephas G. Childs, who lived next above the Eldon, was also an 
earl}' resident, and was interested in the advancement of Chestnut Hill. The 
brown colored house which belonged to Colonel Childs is now owned by Mrs. 
Brown, and occupied by William E. Littleton, Esq. The building was erected 



488 CHESTNUT HILL. 

by Colonel Childs. He obtained the land of John Nace, who lived in the 
house owned by John Jenks. Colonel Childs was interested in the Episcopal 
Church known as St. Paul's, which used to hold its services in a room over 
the Reading Railroad Depot. Colonel Childs was an influential and useful 
citizen. 

Joseph Patterson built the three companion cottages which are just beyond 
the iiouse of Colonel Childs, nearer to the Reading Depot. They are occupied 
by Messrs. Earle, Plummer and Moses Paxton. They were erected about six 
years ago. 

J. Sargent Price, the son of Eli K. Price, Esq., remodeled the house nearly 
opposite the cottages just mentioned. The house belonged to John Piper. 
Mr. Price has had it since about 1862 or 1863. 

Miss A. Piper's new house was built in 1854. 

NORWOOD AVENUE. 

Ex-Mayor Richard Vaux's house was built by Charles Taylor. An upper 
bay window in the second story overhangs the lower story. It is a fine square 
house with a front porch. There is a terrace above the meadow-like park, 
between this house and that of Mrs. Comegys. Ex-Mayor Vaux is noted for 
his earl}^ morning walks. I met him once in an early ramble with his faithful 
dog bearing him company. It is a pity that more persons do not know the 
value of exercise in the pure air. 

E. S. Buckley built the pleasant country house next to that of ex-Mayor 
Vaux in 1864. There is a stone wall above the house and a hedge below it. 
It is a square stone mansion with ample piazzas on three sides, which afford 
fine views. The location is good, as the ground falls below the house as a 
natural terrace. 

Next to the residence of Mr. Buckley, on the lower side, is that of R. C. Mc- 
Murtrie. This house has been built about twenty-seven years. It is em- 
bosomed in trees, and a green-house and hedges adorn the grounds. 

Mrs. Charles Taylor's place is entered by a drive, cut into the ground by 
reason of the conformation of the hill. The old trees have been allowed to 
remain. The foundations of the massive stone building are of immense size. 
The house is like that of Mr. E. Benson's in its grand and castle-like appear- 
ance. The roof is broken by lines that make it picturesque. A bay window 
varies the exterior of the house. A. porte-cochere, with its heavy stone arch- 
way, faces Sunset avenue. The fortress-like foundations and the regular 
irregularit}^ of the Taylor mansion make it a pretty and striking object in the 
landscape. 

The spire of the Church of Our Mother of Consolation rising above the 
sacred edifice forms a pretty picture in looking from Norwood avenue. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 491 

" EDGCUMBE," THE RESIDENCE OF CHARLES B. DUNN. 

Mr. Charles Taylor deserved great credit for his efforts to advance the new 
Chestnut Hill M^hen it began to shake off its long sleep. He had the house of 
Charles B. Dunn erected about twenty-five years ago. Mr. Dunn's house is a 
very pleasant one in a beautiful position. The winding entrance road cut 
into the lawn introduces the way to the long house, wdth its piazza on the 
upper side and another on the lower one. Windows project from the roof A 
lawn gives a view toward Barren Hill. There is a fine sloping ha-ha wall. 

This pleasant mansion of gray stone was erected by Mr. Charles Taylor, 
about 1857, T. P. Chandler, Jr., being tlie architect. He was also the architect 
of Stonecliffe, Mrs. Charles Taylor's place. 

The late Arthur H. Howell purchased the property, and resided in it until 
A. D. 1876, when Mr. Dunn became the owner. 

In 1881 tire house was greatly enlarged, and the lawn extended, by taking 
in the adjoining fields to the south and west. • 

Edgcumbe, meaning the side of a hill, is named from Mount Edgcumbe in 
England. Mr. Dunn is a native of St. Austell, Cornwall, England, and 
naturally selected an English name, from a place where his father owned a 
clay mine which furnished material for china ware. The vicinity of St. Austell 
is famed for its china-stone, which is used in the Staffordshire potteries. 

There are ample piazzas on the front and lower sides of the house, giving 
fine views of the surrounding beautil\il scenery. 

On the upper side in the music-room, is a large bay window, while the 
parlor and library also enjoy these cheerful adjuncts. 

The house is three stories in height. 

The green-house is in the rear, and also a fine stone stable. 

A tower above the mansion is used as an observatory, ^nd commands an 
extensive view.. Some eight acres are included in this place. 

A pretty winding drive, terminating in a circle, introduces to the mansion. 

The four gate-posts are massively built of stone, corresponding to the house, 
and are adorned with flowers in the summer, brightening the entrance, and 
giving a pleasant welcome to the incomer. 

Mr. Dunn is of the firm of Dunn Brothers, Bankers, Philadelphia and New 
York. 

An old barn and house at the corner of Main street and Thorp's lane, 
represented by the amateur photo of J. W. G. Dunn, makes a striking and 
pretty view. The old .Johnson house, lately demolished, with the Ambrose 
White house (also destroyed) in the background ; and an old blacksmith shop, 
near Wheel-Pump tavern, on the Bethlehem turnpike, with a horse and 
several persons in front of it, as the strong sun casts their shadows on the wall, 
are by the same hand. 



492 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Mrs. George Whitney's house is next to that of Mr. Dunn. This was also 
built by Charles Taylor. It is of modern architecture, on a gentle rise of 
ground, inclosed by a ha-ha wall. 

Next is the house of A. M. Collins, which was another Taylor house. It 
was formerly owned by Col. Richard Rush. The mansion has a double bay 
window on the upper side, and nestles among vines, with a vine-clad gable 
in front. 

The house of Col. George North, on the corner of Norwood avenue, opposite 
Mrs. Comegys's School on one side and the rectory of St. Paul's Episcopal 
Church on the other street, is an ample stone mansion with piazzas and 
porch, and is surmounted by an observatory, which is desirable in the midst 
of such fine scenery. The lawn stretches above and below the mansion. 

The bluestone mansion on the corner of Reading pike and Chestnut avenue, 
facing on Chestnut avenue, is the residence of the late Gen. Joshua Owen, a 
brother of the Rev. Dr. Owen. Samuel H. Austin formerly owned it. The 
open grounds on each side make it a desirable position. 

GENERAL JOSHUA T. OWEN. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer of November 8th and 9th, A. D. '87, contained 
notices of this distinguished citizen of Chestnut Hill, which give material 
for a brief sketch. General Owen died November 7th, 1887, at Chestnut Hill. 
His birth place was Caermarthen, South Wales, and the dace of his birth 
1825. In 1830, David Owen, his father, came to Baltimore, and established 
the firm of Owen & Co., for publishing books. Here Joshua learned printing. 
In 1840 we find him in Jefferson College. He graduated during the presidency 
of Dr. Robert J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. In 1847 he was a clerk in the 
Philadelphia Post-Qffice. " In 1852 he founded the Chestnut Hill Academy." 
He was in the Philadelphia Common Council and in the Legislature of Penn- 
sylvania. He practiced law till volunteers were called for in 1861. He then 
established the rendesvous camp at Chestnut Hill, and became Colonel of the 
Tv/enty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was afterward in " the famous 
Sixty-ninth Regiment," which felt the effects of his good discipline. General 
Hooker comphmented General Owen at Fair Oaks. In 1862 he became a 
brigadier-general. He was in every battle of the army of the Potomac, and was 
very brave and daring. After the war he was elected Recorder of Deeds by 
the Republicans. He founded the New York Daily Register, a legal 
journal. His wife was Miss Sheridan. Three daughters and a son survive 
him. The son continues the newspaper in New York. A son named Robert, 
a lawyer of promising talent died about two years before his father. The 
Rev. Dr. Roger T. Owen, who was long the pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
at Chestnut Hill, is a brother of General Owen. General Owen was courteous 
and genial, and his memory will be kept green. He was natural in manner 
and kind-hearted, a man of principle, ready to battle for the right. He was 



CHESTNUT HILL. 495 

clear-sighted, and a good lawyer. In public matters he was a leader " through 
force of character." He had a single aim, alnd a firm purpose. At the bar, in 
the field, and in social life, he has left an honorable name as a rich legacy to 
his family. 

Above St. Paul's rectory was the residence of Mrs. Elias Boudinot. It is 
now owned by Mr. White, who has taken possession of it within four or five 
j'ears. 

The square house next to Mr. Whitney's was owned by Mrs. Tobias Wagner. 
Bishop William Hobart Hare lived in it when he was rector of St. Paul's 
Church. He is now the faithful Missionary Bishop of South Dakota, and re- 
sides at Sioux Falls, far away from his former parish. 

Next to this house is that of James Young, who was the first one who re- 
sided in it, though it was built by another person. 

At the foot of Norwood avenue is the well-shaded residence of the late May 
Stevenson, which was built in 1853 by Thomas Earp, Jr., who sold it to A. M. 
Burton, from whom Mr. Stevenson purchased it. The place has a pleasant 
lawn. It stands opposite Mrs. Taylor's property, on Sunset avenue, which 
runs along its lower border. 

THE READING RAILROAD. 

The officers of the Reading Railroad haVe settled themselves largely on the 
Chestnut Hill Branch. The former President, F. B. Gowen, Esq., has a 
delightful home, in a quiet situation, encircled by meadows, near the Mount 
Airy Station, far enough away from the whirl of business to give a hard 
driven man a little breath in the evening. The mansion is of good taste and 
has a comfortable look. The railway traveler may get a glimpse of it, on the 
right, after passing Mount Airy Station, going toward Chestnut Hill. Its red 
roof shows itself beyond the trees which skirt the railroad. My schoolmate, 
J. Lowrie Bell, the former General Traffic Manager, resided on Graver's lane, 
in a house belonging to Mrs. H. C. Booth, who has built several fine houses in 
that vicinity. Henry McKay, the Treasurer of the Philadelphia and Reading 
Coal and Iron Company, lives on Ivy avenue, near Mount Pleasant Station. 
W. A. Church, the Treasurer of the Reading Railroad, resides in Germantown, 
at the corner of Knox and Penn streets. C. G. Hancock lives on Duy's lane, 
in the same place. He is the General Passenger Agent. John W. Royer, the 
General Express Agent, lives on Fisher's lane, Germantown. James Colhoun, 
the Division General Freight Agent, is on Harvey street, Germantown, and 
J. Y. Humphrey, the Receiver's Assistant, and formerly the vice-President, 
resides on Green street, in the same place. 

The Reading Depot was built in A. D. 1872. There was a previous frame 
building on the same site, with a hall in the second story. The present 
building is of stone. The railroad was completely finished and in running 



496 CHESTNUT HILL. ■ 

order and opened from Chestnut. Hill to Germantown in 1857. It was opened 
from Philadelphia to Germantown in 1834. About 1854 the railway was in 
partial use. An engine then pushed the cars from Germantown to Chestnut 
Hill, and they returned by gravity. The rock cuttings and positions of plat- 
forms and depots on the Reading Railroad show a very wild country near a 
populous city. The stairs leading to the street below or the residences above 
the railway in Germantown have an Alpine look. In the summer of 1876 
there were twenty-eight trains out of Philadelphia and twenty-seven into the 
city daily from Chestnut Hill on the Reading Railroad. Lincoln E. Leeds, 
the Station Agent, has kindly informed me as to the history of the railroad. 

WISSAHICKON DRIVE. 

In driving from Chestnut Hill to Barren Hill we reach Mount St. Joseph's 
Convent on the right of the road, which is the last property in the city limits. 
It joins Whitemarsh township, in Montgomery county. The buildings are of 
imposing size and present a striking appearance. They are of gray stone. 
When I passed them the large chapel was unfinished. The upper end of the 
" Wissahickon Drive " begins at Wissahickon avenue, near the Convent. A 
high hilly road soon branches from the drive on the right and goes on to 
Roxborough. A rustic cedar fence, with its single rail, is pretty as we see it 
by the roadside. A fence is generally an obstruction to the view, and if we 
must have it at all the less it is the better. A village like Edgewater, New 
Jersey, shows how much prettier places are where fences are lacking. 

Let us ride along the far-famed and beautiful Wissahickon drive. A stone 
ruin on the left adds to the picturesqueness of the scene. The creek in its 
gentle beautj^, creeps along below. Here is the retreat of fishermen. The 
road is narrow where we enter it at the upper part. There is a county bridge 
on the road. The constant curve of the drive, and the frequent rocks in 
the stream, give incessant surprise and delight. The shallow, babbling water 
is a livel}^ companion. A stone double house on the left, with its little stretch 
of open ground about it, shows that some can find a home in this quiet retreat. 
A quaint old stone house stands on the far side of the creek above the Red 
Bridge. Thorp's lane is another landmark. The rider catches a picturesque 
view of dwellings on the far side of the creek, and the foliage makes them 
pretty. Indian Rock, and Indian Rock Hotel, and the bridge on Rex avenue 
with its fine wall, are passed. Some big rocks appear to give wildness to the 
view. There is a bridle path from Indian Rock to Falls bridge, which must 
lead through scenes of sylvan beauty which one longs to have the time to 
explore. The right side of the drive becomes precipitous. The fountains to 
refresh the horses are pretty, and display a laudable care for dumb animals. 
They are free above Valley Green. The sumac, with its red berries, gives life 
to the picture. It is said that Fraiace, Germany, Holland, Armenia and Persia 
rejoice in this same plant. The plant is of the genus Rhus ; it has a number 



CHESTNUT HILL. 497 

of species, and the tanner, the dyer, and the physician have found use for some 
of them. There is another noisy dam which should afford cheering reflections, 
as it sings incessantly day and night in its unfailing gladness. On the right 
is a neat stone Park Guard house. Such things are striking breaks in the 
drive. The roads or paths go climbing up the hill-sides and are lost to sight, 
though the imagination paints pretty scenes beyond the reach of the eye. 
There is a pretty waterfall on the right, and a watering-cart is preparing for 
its work of benevolence. 

Hartwell avenue or lane has its bridge, and we pass Springfield avenue. A 
rustic stile and steps of stone beautify a bridle path. The work of Park 
improvement have been done in excellent taste. There is a cedar fence for a 
short distance on Hartwell avenue on the left. The wildness continues along 
Hartwell avenue. The " Crow's Nest," with its square tower, peers down from 
its height. Mr. Houston has wisely chosen a retired spot for his new home. 
Now comes the Wissahickon Inn, in the midst of the wild scenery at the top 
of the hill. Some children are playing at the little creek below with their 
attendants. Before reaching the Inn we pass under the bridge over Thirty- 
second street and by the stone stables. Then comes the Inn, with its red tiles 
and gray stone and awnings. 

THE READING TURNPIKE. 

Just beyond Sunset avenue, on the right, in going toward Barren Hill, we 
meet Mr. Harrison's place. There is here a wide stretch of sloping lawn, with 
a ha-ha. This commands a fine reach or view on the Whitemarsh Valley. 
Opposite is Mr. Penrose's prettily locaited abode. There are two modern houses 
on the extension of Sunset avenue, on the other side of the pike. The more 
distant one has an observatory. In returning toward the town, on the right 
hand, in coming up from Sunset avenue, is a house with dense foliage in front- 
of it. It is heavily built, with a square tower, and a lawn descending to Sun- 
set avenue with a ha-ha, which has a prettier effect than a raised wall. The 
appropriate name of this place is " Sunset " and the evening view from this 
house must be charming. Still I looked at it when the morning birds were 
singing, and the workmen were going forth to their " labor until the evening " 
as the psalmist describes man's daily toil. The milk-wagon also had fallen 
into the line of duty, and sunrise was calling all things to work. The place 
described formerly belonged to Mr. Hildeburn, but is now owned bj^ Mrs. E. 
P. Dwight. Next above the Dwight place is Mr. Kneedler's large, three-story, 
brown-stone mansion, with a surrounding piazza, and an orchard in the rear. 
Next, on the same side, is the house of Mr. Chapman, with tall trees to guard 
its front. It is of a light color, and three stories in height. There is a 
pleasant lawn above it, and the view in the rear is a fine one. The adjoining 
place above this, is the Levi Rex house (now George V. Rex's estate), which 
was erected, A. D. 1801. It is occupied by George H. Stuart, Jr., whose hon- 
ored father toiled so hard in the good work of the Christian Commission dur- 



498 CHESTNUT HILL. 

ing the Southern war. This is an old-fashioned, two-stor}^, j'ellow-colored 
house, with dormer windows. There is a lawn above it. There is an oven in 
the celler said to have been used by soldiers in the war of 1812. Next comes 
a three-story brown house, with a piazza. The property adjoining this, on the 
same side, is a yellow, three-story-house, with a bay window on its upper side, 
and a piazza on the lower side. A lawn lies below it. This is the abode of 
Dr. Biddle. Next is a small house of a light color, with a plastered wall. The 
neat Methodist parsonage follows, and adjoining this is the pretty Methodist 
church, formerly under the care of Rev. Mr. Dotterer, who rebuilt it. 

A gentleman of antiquarian tastes in Germantown has called my attention 
to a small two-story old stone house, above Allen's lane, on the Cresheim road. 
It is an antique, bat holds its age well. It belonged to the Bolter familj', as 
Mr. Hinkle told my informant. The building is a quaint one, with an old 
spring-house at its side. I found the deed in H. H. Houston's ofl&ce, which 
recites that in the year of our Lord, 1762, while Pennsylvania was still a 
province, -John Johnson, saddler, of German Town, as the surviving executor 
of Matthias Milan (alias Mallane), late of Creesam, yeoman, in the second 
year of the reign of George the Third, conveyed the property which Milan had 
received from Johannes Bleikers, in 1700, to Peter Hej'sler, stocking weaver of 
Creesam. Four rix dollars were reserved to the Frankfort Company as quit 
rent. Daniel Falckner was the Company's attornej''. John Henry Sprogel 
purchased the quit rent of him and released it to Milan in A. D. 1718. A few 
years since the property fell into the hands of H. H. Houston. This was part 
of a tract of one hundred acres which has since been divided into parcels. 

I believe that "William Schlatter was a son of Rev. Michael Schlatter, 
whose biography has been given. He lived on Chestnut street, and manj- 
houses and stores now cover his old home, as he owned several acres. Horses 
and cows used to graze on the lot next to Thirteenth street, which ran back to 
Sansom street, where the stables were before the land was sold, as a friend of 
the family informs me. 

It is sad to reflect that several aged people who have given me reminiscences 
have died before they appeared in print. So earthly bodies and houses vanish 
away. In gleaning, many golden sheaves have been kindly dropped in mj- 
way, for which I am grateful. It might be well if local history could find a 
new recorder every twenty-five or fifty years, and if one takes up the work in 
this field again maj^ he find it as pleasant a task as it has been to the writer, 
who now parts from the friends who have walked with him, from Germantown 
to Chestnut Hill. 

Lines on revisiting the Wissahickon by Miss C. H. Waterman : 

" Where thy sweetly murin'ring river. 

In its glad play, 
To the woods that rcund thee quiver, 

Weaves a fond lav. 












V. 






1* '■ A 



^ 













" RAUIIALA," THE RESIDENCE OF A. WARREN KELSEY. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 501 

Where the wild bird loves to libten 

On its still wing, 
As thy silvery waters glisten, 

And sweetly sing." 

— Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. Ill, p. 166. 

Rauhala has been described in the Telegraph. (See page 439 of this 
volume.) The name is Swedish, and means a peaceful home, and a hapjjy 
family of children enliven it. The Baroness IspolatofF, of Helsingford, in 
Finland, was a particular friend of Mrs. Kelsey. She is now dead, but this 
American home commemorates the appellation of her residence. There are 
eight acres in the property, and the deeds run back to Penn and Pastorius. 
The land was once in the possession of a family w^hose five daughters all 
married into the Schultz family. 

BARREN HILL. 

The third house above Thorp's lane, on the right hand of the Reading pike 
in driving from Chestnut Hill, is an old farm house now remodeled and 
owned by Thomas Stewart. In Revolutionary days George Edleman owned 
the farm. When a part of the British army were returning from the unsuc- 
cessful attempt to surprise Washington at Whitemarsh, some of the soldiers 
drove Mrs. Kdleman from her bed with her infant two or three weeks old, and 
burned the bed in a lot near by. There is a tradition that a soldier placed a 
child's red petticoat on his bayonet, and an officer told him to leave it, as they 
came to fight men and not children, though they were not successful in fight- 
ing the men. 

Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg's Journal (Collections of Historical Society of Pennsyl- 
vania, Vol. I, p. 162) notes that on Sunday, April 13, A. D. 1777, his son 
Henry preached at St. Peter's, Barren Hill, and informed him that " an express 
had arrived in Philadelphia that the British ships of war and transports had 
been seen at the entrance of Delaware Bay, and that to-day alarm cannon had 
been fired." When I visited the quiet spot on a summer's day it seemed far 
from war's alarms, but then if the tidings had not disturbed the congregation 
they must have stirred it not long after service. Afterward came the report 
that the ships had disappeared. 

On October 3, 1777, at midnight, good Dr. Muhlenberg heard a noise at his 
front door and imagined it to be the British light-horse. He struck a light 
and found two loose horses. There was a " report that at daylight the British 
outposts at Barren Hill and Germantown " would be attacked. 

An old man who walked fifty miles to Barren Hill, to get a certificate of his 
son's baptism, saw St. Peter's Church used as a stable for the horses of the 
American army. The British army had a little while before taken the live 
stock in the neighborhood, so that little was left for the American army. 



502 CHESTNUT HILL. 

Two English women came on foot to the Doctor's house, having escaped 
from Philadelphia. They had waded the Skippack and Perkiomen, and were 
on their way to Reading, seeking their husbands. 

Watson states (Vol. II, p. 26) that the Lutheran Church at Barren Hill was 
built by a lottery in 1761. 

The Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike was finished in 1804. Length, 
twenty-five miles ; cost, $285,000. Tliis was a great enterprise for that day, 
and more notable than railway building to-day, when money is more abundant. 
The country stores were probably hurt by the new turnpikes, as the farmers 
could readih^ take their produce into the citv over them. In 1874 this pike 
was made free. 

ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, BARREN HILL. 

By the courtesy of the last pastor of St. Peter's Church, J. Q, McAfee, a copy 
of The Norristown Herald and Free Press, dated April 9, A. D. 1883, is before me, 
containing some particulars about this old parish from the pen of the faithful 
local historian, the Honorable W. A. Yeakle. He refers to an old minute 
book, and to Dr. F. D. Schaefer, and Buck's History, and HalUsche Nachricten, 
etc., as authorities. I believe that this gentleman wrote the account of this 
church in Bean's History of Montgomery County. 

The first election of elders noted in the minutes occurred on the 1st of April, 
A. D. 1766. Henrich Katz, Johannes Bauer, Andreas Koeth and Philip Lehr 
were then chosen to that office, while William Hiltner and Johannes Fisher 
were elected as deacons. Dr. Muhlenberg installed them on October 23, A. D. 
1768. " Johannes Richert and Johannes Mitschele were elected elders ; and 
on the 15th of May, 1769, Johannes Hailman (or Hallman) and Christian 
Stier installed hy Reverendam Pastorem Schultze." The last election recorded in 
the first minute-book took place in 1775, on the 24th of September, Heinrich 
Katz, Andreas Coeth (Koetes), Johannes Rickert, Conrad Gerlinger (Gillinger), 
Andreas Bauer and Friedrich Miller received an election to the diaconate, and 
. Leonhart Kolb and Frantz Vaaht were chosen elders, and William Linneschut 
held over. Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg's records end at this point. 

Dr. Muhlenberg ministered over a large district of country, and was a faith- 
ful worker. Parishes often lacked pastors. The distance between churches was 
great, and the roads were bad. The inhabitants had been born in the old 
country for the most part. They owned little propertj^, and it was difiicult to 
support the scattered parishes. Dr. Schaefer was the pastor of St. Peter's, 
Barren Hill, from 1790 to 1812. He found the church and school in a poor 
condition. The church building had broken windows, and the roof seemed 
ready to fall. The pastor wrote that faith and trust would be needed, and 
prays " May the Kingdom of God break forth with such power that the out- 
ward affairs of the church would be better administered." The letter is dated 
" Germantown, the 25th of November, 1803." It is recorded in German in his 
own hand in the minutes. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 503 

Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, D. D., was born in Hanover, in Germany, 
at Eiinbeck, on the 6th of September, 1711. He studied in the Universities of 
Gottengen and Halle. The Lutherans of .Pennsylvania, sent strong appeals 
to those in authoritj' at Halle for clergy, and Dr. Muhlenberg was sent in 1742. 
He preached his first sermon at the Swamp, in New Hanover, in Montgomery 
county ; then it was Philadelphia county. There were then three organized 
Lutheran churches in the province of Pennsylvania. One was in Philadelphia, 
another at Trappe, and the third in Hanover. He took up his abode at Trappe, 
and was in charge of the three cliuixhes up to 1761, when he moved to St. 
Michael's, in Philadelphia, and there remained until the Revolution, when he 
went back to the Trappe, where he died at the age of seventy-six, on' the 7th 
of October, A. D. 1787. His third son was the Rev. Henry Earnest Muhlen- 
berg. He closed his studies at Halle, in 1770, and became assistant minister . 
to St. Michael's and aided his father in his wide work. He and his father 
officiated at St. Peter's Church, Barren Hill, until 1777, when Howe came into 
Philadelphia, and j'oung Muhlenberg went to Lancaster and took charge of a 
church there. 

In June, 1760, John Frederick Schmidt became the pastor in Germantown, 
and preached alternate Sundays at Frankford and Whitpain, and occasionally 
officiated at Barren Hill. The Rev. Messrs. Kurtz, Voight and Buskirk jsreached 
on alternate Sundays at Barren Hill about this time, or a little subsequent 
to it. 

In the Revolution, St. Peter's Church was on ground which was at different 
times occupied by both the Americans and the British. Dr. Muhlenberg notes 
in his journal, under date of November 8, 1777 : " That it was used as a stable 
for horses by a portion of the American army encamped in the vicinity," and 
adds that a short time before the British army had taken horses and oxen, cows 
and sheep and hogs from the inhabitants. 

Pierpont, in his poem on Washington, refers to a sad abu.se of the old South 
Church, Boston, similar to that at Barren Hill, thus: 

" When from this gate of heaven, 
People and priest were driven 

By fire and sword. 
And, where thy saints had pray'd, 
The harness'd war-horse neigh'd 
And horsemen's trumpet bray'd 

In harsh accord." 

" Nor was our fathers' trust 
Thou Mighty One and Just, 

Then put to shame 
Up to the hills for light, 
Look'd they in peril's night, 
And from yon guardian height, 

Deliverance came." 

The poet refers to Dorchester Heights, where Washington was located, and 
from that commanding position he forced the British to evacuate Boston. 



504 CHESTNUT HILL. 

In a short time after Mr. Schmidt became pastor at Germautown, Rev. Daniel 
Schroeder was, as Buck mentions, the minister at Barren Hill. 

The first baptism on record at St. Peter's is that of a child of Cbristophel 
Schuppart. The name of Christian was given to it. Philip Kolb and wife 
were the sponsors. This was on February 10th, A. D. 1765. In this year 
Conrad Bischoff is named as the parish school-master. This teacher makes a 
note that the first church minute-book was lost, or had been mislaid. He 
further states that the Rev. Lewis Voight was then the pastor. Mr. Yeakle 
thought that it was probable that he was assisting Dr. Muhlenberg before the 
son of that clergyman arrived to aid his father. 

La Fayette's Head-Quarters were at this church. See Lossing's Field Book 
of the Revolution, j). 116. ■ An old school house and two other houses, besides 
the church comprised the settlement in that day. For an account of the 
attempt to surprise La Fayette, see p. 122. The General was in the house of a 
Tory Quaker, 

The following quaint epitaphs in St. Peter's graveyard have been copied for 
this article by the Rev. Mr. McAtee : 

In memory of 

Thomas Tieson, 

"Who departed this life Nov.' 18, 1794. 

Aged 24 years. 

The waves of Neptune I have conquered, 

And Borea's blasts I did not shun, 

But Jupiter with his horrible shaking, 

Soon laid me underneath the ground, 

But yet there is an Omnipotent Being 

And I know he mercy hath, 

I hope that he will show it to him, 

Who did die such a sudden death, • 

If mercy he douth show unto me, 

Then I will set sail again, 

For God is merciful tn all sinners 

Who douth seek his glorious name. 

In memorj^ of 

Philip Sidxer, 

Who departed this hfe Oct. 31, 1811. 

Aged 32, 6, 21. 

Philip Sidner was my name, 
Germany was my nation, 
Plymouth was my dwelling place, 
And Christ is my salvation. 
Now I am dead and in my grave. 
And when my bones are rotten. 
When this you see remember me, 
Least I should be forgotten. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 505 

In memory of 

James Thompson, 

Who departed this life July 31, 1841, 

Aged 50 years. 

Jesus Christ, thou amiablest, of characters, I trust thou art no impostor, and tliat in 

thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed by being connected togethar in a better 

world where every tie that bound heart to heart in this state of existence, shall be far 

beyond our present conceptions more endearing. 

ST. PETER'S, BARREN HILL, PA. 

BY EEV. H. M. BICKEL. 

The St. Peter's Lutheran congregation at Barren Hill, Montgomery county, 
Pa , of which Rev. J. Q. McAtee is the present pastor, and in whose midst the 
Philadelphia Conference of the East Pennsylvania Synod recently held their 
fall convention, is among the oldest organizations of the kind in Eastern Penn- 
sjdvania. We learn from the records to which we have had access that a 
numher of Lutherans had settled in the vicinity of Barren Hill at an early 
day, and that in 1761 the organization of a congregation was effected. The 
centennial of this event was celebrated in 1861, during the pastorate of Rev. 
S. Sentman. One record says: "Some German families of the Protestant 
religion in Whitemarsh township, living destitute of school (advantages), and 
being without (public) divine worship, joined and agreed to erect a school- 
house on a place called Barren Hill. They made a small collection among 
themselves, and sent a schoolmaster with recommendatory letters of Henry 
Muhlenberg, minister, to gather charitable gifts among our German inhabitants 
towards the said building. The school-house, being finished and paid, served 
for instructing the children on week-days and for some wor-ship on Sabbaths." 

Subsequently, about 1765, a church was erected near the aforementioned 
school-house, and this constituted the first spiritual home of those eaidy settlers 
who, being too remote from St. Michael's, at Gerraantown, desired a house of 
worship more convenient to their homes, in which they might gather and hold 
their public religious services. This early church was an unpretentious wooden 
edifice, and its completion was much hindered bj^ reason of inadequate funds 
and the difficulty in securing contributions. It was in this building that some 
of our Revolutionary troops, under General Lafayette, were quartered about 
the time that General Washington wintered at Valley Forge. As the church 
was located upon debatable ground, it was alternately occupied by the British 
and American forces, and " used as a battery and a stable." 

Subsequently another church was erected on the site of the first, and this in 
time gave way to the present Gothic structure, erected in 1849, during the 
pastoral incumbency of Rev. F. R. Anspach, which, being on high ground, and 
having a lofty spire, constitutes a prominent landmark, and may be seen for 
miles from almost every direction as the traveler approaches this historic spot. 



506 CHESTNUT HILL. 

The St. Peter's congregation at Barren Hill and Union congregation in 
Whitemarsh, of whicla Rev. Dr. Sheeleigh has for a number of years been 
pastor, were both connected with St. Michael's, in Germantown, until the 
period of Rev. Dr. C. W. Schaeffer's pastorate, from which time until Rev. Dr. 
W. M. Baum succeeded to the charge, the two country congregations constituted 
a separate pastorate. During Dr. Baum's incumbencj^, St. Peter's became a 
separate charge, and the Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin (or Puff's) congrega- 
tions were united into a new pastorate. 

Since Rev. Mr. McAtee took the oversight of St. Peter's, who has just com- 
pleted the fourth year of his labors there, great changes and marked improve- 
ments have been made in the cemetery grounds and the church itself. Old 
sheds and unsightly structures adjacent to the church have been removed and 
new sheds erected ; the cemetery grounds have been inclosed with a beautiful 
iron fence, part of which had been erected during the pastorates of former 
ministers ; the church and tower painted ; the woodwork within regrained ; new 
chandeliers and pulpit and altar furniture provided, and the parsonage refitted, 
at a total cost of $2750. Besides all this an old debt has been reduced from 
$2800 to about $1200 ; and now we have at Barren Hill a commodious and 
beautiful church, attractive surroundings, and a congregation with a debt of 
$1200 and an investment at interest of about $6000, whicli was a legacy lately 
left the church. The people of St. Peter's congregation are intelligent, social, 
progressive, churclilj^ and altogether constitute one of the most desirable rural 
pastorates in the bounds of the East Pennsylvania Synod. Brother McAtee 
has labored here with much success, and shown a marked degree of energy and 
interest in the temporal and spiritual good of his people that has greatly 
endeared him to them. 

PASTORS. 

The following constitutes the succession of pastors from 1765 to the present 
time: Henry E. Muhlenberg, 1765; F. David Shafer, 1791-1812; Jno. C. 
Baker, 1812-1828 ; Benj. Keller, 1828-1835 ; C. W. Schaeffer, 1835-1840; F. 
R. Anspach, 1841-1850; W. H. Smith, 1850-1852; W. M. Baum, 1852-1858; 
S. Sentman, 1858-1862; C. L. Keedy, 1862-1865; J. Q. Waters, 1865-1867; J. 
R. Dimm, 1867-1871 , T. C. Pritchard, 1871-1883 ; J. Q. McAtee, 1883 to the 
present time. 

It will be seen by this list, that among the pastors at St. Peter's have been 
some of our most honored and successful ministers, of whom the venerable 
Dr. C. W. Schaeffer is the senior survivor, and all of whom, beginning with 
Dr. W. M. Baum, are still actively engaged as pastors or professors, except 
brother Sentman, who has gone to his eternal rest. — F)-om the Lutheran Observer, 
December Wth, 1887. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 507 

INSTALLATION AT BARREN HILL. 

Last Lord's day, the 7th inst., Rev. A. H. F. Fischer was appropriately 
installed pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Barren Hill (Lafayette Hill P. 
0.), Montgomery county. Pa. The address to the congregation was made by 
Rev. M. Sheeleigh, D. D., who was substituted for Rev. T. C. Pritchard, detained 
at home by illness, and the charge to the pastor was delivered by Rev. H. M. 
Bickel, M'ho also conducted the order of installation. A large and deeply 
interested audience was present, and the gratification of all was clearly seen 
and expressed. Brother Fischer has served St. Peter's people since the first 
Sunday in February, and he has already won the confidence of his parish- 
ioners, old and young, and made a most favorable and hopeful impression 
upon them. A new departure was inaugurated on this occasion in the manner 
of receiving and depositing the offerings of the congregation. The well-used 
baskets were substituted by silver plates, which at the proper time were 
received by the deacons from the hands of the pastor, and after the offerings 
had been gathered were brought forward in orderly manner, the bearers 
coming up the centre aisle, two by two, and passing the plates to the pastor who 
reverently placed them on the altar, after which the officers retired to their 
l^ews. Thus has prominence, solemnity and proper order been given to this act 
of worship. The officers and people are well pleased with the change, and are 
heartil}^ disposed to pursue every course that is orderly and churchly and pro- 
motive of the good of the congregation in things temporal and spiritual. 

' H. M. B. 

"From Hitner's mine, near Marble Hall, immense quantities of (brown 
hematite iron) ore have been taken. In the year 1853 about twelve thousand 
tons were extracted from this mine." — Bean's history of Montgomery county, 
pp. 13, 14. Potsdam sandstone is found in tliis township, p. 21. The beds of 
rock which underlie Whitemarsh are "Limestone, sandstone, syenite and 
granite rocks, mica-schist." p. 24. 

It seems strange to see so much iron mining work done so near Philadelphia 
as in the region just above Chestnut Hill. 

I am indebted to the pen of Hon. Richard Vaux for the following description, 
which will be of especial interest to Chestnut Hill readers : 

The property situated at Chestnut Hill, between the Reading and Norristown 
turnpike, and what is now Chestnut avenue, or a large tract of it, was owned, 
fifty years ago, as a farm, by the late John R. NefF. At that day it was without 
any other improvements than a country, with a sparse population required for 
the use of agricultural land. The village of Chestnut Hill at the junction of 
these turnpikes was a well-known locality, by reason of the location and 



508 CHESTNUT HILL. 

business transacted there by the farmers from Bucks and neighboring counties 
coming back and going to Philadelpliia. During the last epidemic of yellow 
fever in Philadelphia, this village was the point where travel Avas curbed, and 
from the city came many who needed the domestic supplies that the farmers 
had to sell. Therofore that locality had a history which has been already 
noticed in the sketches heretofore published. 

Mr. Neff's property was bought by Charles Taylor about 1840. He began to 
improve it. Mr. Samuel I. Austen, also an owner of land thereabouts, took an 
interest in making these improvements to meet the wants of temporary or per- 
manent residents, on what was then regarded as a most desirable residence. In 
1853, Summit street was laid out. Mr. Taylor laid out Norwood avenue in 
1860. Norwood avenue began at what is now called Chestnut avenue, and 
terminated at the foot of the Hill. Colonel North's house is at the south corner 
of these streets. It has been already noticed. The next house to Colonel 
North's, on Norwood avenue, was built by Mr. Taylor. It was occupied in 
1860 by Miss Morris. It then was bought by Colonel Richard Rush, who sold 
it to Mr. Collins, who now occupies it. Mr. J. S. Hodge built the next house, 
and it was long occupied by Col. Buck, then owned by Mr. Colesberry, and now 
by Mr. Disston. Mr. Taylor built the next house, and the late Mr. Arthur 
Howell lived in it till his death. Mr. Dunn bought it and lives there. Mr. 
Dunn's house is on top of the slope of the hill to the west. Mr. Thomas 
Stewart, who so largely aided his kinsman, Mr. Taylor, in making all the 
improvements on the Neff farm, built a residence to the west of Mr. Dunn's. 
It is a most imposing edifice. Norwood avenue turns to the west at the foot 
of the hill and joins the Norristown pike. At this turn Mr. Barton owned the 
property, and sold it to the late Mr. May Stevenson. 

Opposite, or nearly so, to Mr. Dunn's houses, Mr. Edward S. Buckley bought 
of Mr. Taylor a piece of ground and built a residence named " Mount Stoney," 
which he occupies. Next east to Mr. Buckley's, is " Westleigh," the home of 
Mr. A^aux. This house was built by Mr. Taylor and sold to the late S. 
Morris Wain. At his death it came to Mr. Vaux's family. Next to " Westleigh " 
is the school of Mrs. Comegys and Miss Bell, quite a fine building erected by 
these ladies for a boarding and day school, of a very high reputation, as many 
of the young ladies come from all parts of the United States. This description 
concludes Norwood avenue on both sides. This avenue is one of the most 
picturesque of all the rural roads near the city. It has not been dedicated as 
a public road, and the owners of the properties keep it in order. The trees on 
either side arch over the roadway and present a most striking perspective, 
ending in the view of the valley of Whitemarsh. 

On the Reading pike from Chestnut avenue west, Mr. Piper owned a residence 
next to the Taylor land, then J. Sergeant Price's property and residence, and 
then Mr. Benson's house and land, including the Mitchell property, and then 
the residence of the late Mr. John Bohlen. 



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On the side opposite Mrs. Bohlen's residence is " The Eldon," a large board- 
ing-house, of which Mr. Simpson is the proprietor. Back to Ciiestnut avenue 
and the Eeading Railroad depot are first the residence of the late Mr. Edward 
Simmons, and then other houses built by the late Mr. Joseph Patterson. The 
farm, as described, of Mr. Neff, and the land adjoining it, constitutes the 
princijDal plot in this section of Chestnut Hill which marks the growth of 
improvement for twenty- five years. Also, it is pre-eminently one of the most 
beautiful situations and has become the attraction for rural residence's. 

THE ELDON. 

Those who walk and drive along the Bethlehem turnpike cannot fail to 
notice the pleasant, comfortable and ample building which is named above, 
and which each summer gives shelter to many city guests, and even in winter 
exercises its hospitality. Mr. George Simpson bought this place about twenty- 
four years ago, of James E. Mitchell, who purchased it of Daniel Streeper. 
A small cottage then stood at the gate, partly on the site of the present carriage 
drive. Mr. Simpson, who was of the firm of Homer, CoUaday & Co., built a 
gothic cottage, of old English style in design. He carefully superintended the 
work of erection himself, using Chestnut Hill stone. The light colored stone 
in Houpt's quarry failed before the house was finished. The other stone was 
darker and not so good for building. The house was constructed about 16 years 
ago. It is named in honor of Lord Eldon. The name was given by the pro- 
prietor, and the great English jurist deserves the remembrance. 

This place was opened as a summer boarding-house by Mr. Simpson, and used 
for one season, and then it was much enlarged, as the proprietor, at first, had 
merely built it for his own private residence. 

The location of the Eldon is a fine one, and a current of air plays along the 
valley which brings refreshing coolness, and reminds one of the fact that it 
is a sort of mountain breeze, as the hills are not far distant. 

The Eldon has been open for six seasons. Professor DaCosta and Dr. Agnew 
have sent patients to Chestnut Hill on account of the dryness of the air, which 
is remarkable, and may make the region a popular health resort. Chestnut 
Hill is said to be free from malaria. The Pennsylvania and Reading Railroads, 
with their fifty daily trains, have made the place verj'^ easy of access to the 
city. 

. The Eldon has three large parlors and also a sun-parlor, which is heated by 
steam. The house is more like a country home than a hotel. The surround- 
ing views are fine. The building is four stories high and is handsomely 
furnished. 

This elegant building is almost opposite the large mansion of Edwin N. 
Benson. 

In vacation time it is interesting to watch the dwellers in suburban resoi'ts 
and see how they manage to recreate in their various ways. Time, which lags 



510 CHESTNUT HILL. 

back for the wedding of the eager bridegroom, and seems to the mourner 
hastening to strike the hour for the funeral, is thrown away lavishh^ in summer 
by hard-worked people who need rest and change. In the morning the waking 
is prolonged that the faculties may be received anew gradually, as in the 
growth of the child's mind. The meals break the day, and the morning news- 
paper, and the evening chat on the piazza, among new-made friends, and the 
afternoon strolls, a,nd the glances at pretty mansions and winding roads, 
modestly losing themselves among the trees, make pleasant diversions. 

The servants too have their pleasures. Here is a servant-girl, sitting on a 
fire-plug, in the street, reading, while her baby-charge is in its little coach. 
This shows a desirable taste for literature. One evening I noticed a party of 
domestics, and when a ring at the house door-bell summoned a girl from the 
open air to her duties, a male companion cried out in vexation that he wished 
that the door-bell would be let alone. The young man seemed to be in love ; if so, 
let us hope that the smoothness of the course of his true love was not long ruffled. 
The colored servants at the Eldon had their base-ball nine, and their pleasant 
songs in the evening showed that their hearts were light. 

Eev. Joseph L. Miller, of Mt. Airy, sends the following interesting account 
prepared by Mr. John M. Thorp, to whom he is related : 

The old wliite house on the Wissahickon, together with the calico print mill 
near Thorp's lane bridge, and several hundred acres of ground, were bought 
by Issachar Thorp in the year 1835 from the Bell family. Mr. Thorp came to 
this country from England in 1809, but previous to the above purchase, carried 
on the calico printing business on Thorp's lane, Germantown. From his son, 
we have the following information concerning the old house on the Wissa- 
hickon : " It was then (1835) a wild, weird place ; thickets coming close to the 
residence, in which roamed some shy peacocks with their large and beautiful 
fan tails spread proudly wide, and pheasants too were to be found in numbers 
amidst the laurel. A few covies of partridges could always be found in the 
fall, and woodcock were common on the hillsides in autumn, as also among the 
glades in summer. It was no uncommon thing to bag fifteen or twenty head in 
a morning's walk. No wealthy citizen had yet invaded the precinct with his 
palatial residence. It was all delightfully rural. The old white house was 
considered to be an old house at the time my father bought it. He renewed, I 
think, all the woodwork ; but the walls, like the rocks around, stand firm to 
this day. They seemed to know in those days how to make mortar, for it was 
like cutting into solid stone to make a pipe hole. Whether the house was 
built before or after 1800 I do not know. The place was alwaj^s to me singu- 
larly beautiful, a beauty no art could imitate. Standing at the front door, we 
could see our own hills rising on every side, tree above tree, rock above rock. 
The sturdy oak, the grand old chestnut and the beech interspersed to lend 
enchantment to the surroundings. These forest trees stretching up the hilltops 
made pictures as the seasons rolled round that I have never seen equalled." 
In later years the property was bought by William Miller, a brother-in-law of 
Mr. Thorp, and has been in the family ever since. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 511 

My friend Charles S. Keyser, Esq., author of " Fairmount Park," and of 
" Penn's Treaty," kindly allows me to insert the following from his pen : 

THE RETREAT OF BARREN HILL. 

Chestnut Hill termiriates the northern border of Fairmount Park ; the hill 
which rises from its foot sloping northward is Barren Hill. It is now over 
one hundred years ago, the 18th day of May, 1778, that Lafayette, with two 
thousand men, set his camp there. He was still suffering from his wound at 
Brandy wine, and was borne to this Hill from his litter at Bethlehem. His 
command were shoeless and ragged men from " the mud holes " at Valley Forge. 
The day he camped was a day of feast and dance in Philadelphia, such as 
never before and never since that hour has been witnessed within its borders. 
The music of the Meschianza was sounding on its greater river, and in its 
streets ; and women were reveling beneath the sombre shadow of the red cross 
of England waiting the fulfillment of a promise that their fete should termi- 
nate in a supper whether Lafayette should be living or dead. The night 
following that unholy day whose regretful memory remains, silently and very 
slowly, " two miles an hour," as their chroniclers write, from the city, through 
lines doubly set guarding the sluggish sleepers who rested after that scene of 
revelry, seven thousand British regulars were moving along an old road near 
the Delaware to make that promise sure, and along the Ridge, our pleasure 
ground's eastern border, another column was passing to cut his command from 
the Ford, while against his front was marching yet another column by the 
middle road to Germantown, all to reach by daylight this Hill. 

These columns were set in motion to hem Lafayette in their living walls, 
and with him, crush his command. But the Hill stands an unstained 
monument among the many mounds of carnage which remain to mark that 
desperate wai'. Howe's march for all its slowness and its silence was not 
unnoted nor unobstructed. Lafayette's prudence broke its silence in its 
certain way. 

There was a man in the Revolution, Allen McLane, a favorite with the 
army and Washington. He was a man of singular courage, genius to con- 
ceive, and daring to execute the most adventurous enterprises. On these 
grounds his desperate missions were undergone — along the Ridge, across 
these hills, to Lansdowne, to the Falls, down to the royal lines at Fairmount. 
His band of rangers were the moving outposts between the armies of Phila- 
delphia and Valley Forge. Lafayette,- on the morning he made his camp at 
Barren Hill, ordered McLane to this immediate ground, and the stealth}^ 
motion of those silent columns did not escape his restless watchfulness. In 
the midnight distant shots down by " the Falls " startled first the outposts of 
Lafayette, and in the gray dawn into his camp dashed McLane. This was 
McLane's work in the midnight : He had struck, he said, stragglers from 
Howe's advance on the further road. They reported a heavy column there 
and still another column on the Ridge ; to Vandever's Hill he had sent Parr, 



512 CHESTNUT HILL. 

of Morgan's Rifles, with his eighty men ; the shots which Lafayette heard in 
the midnight were Parr's. Hardly was this said when a courier from Parr 
follows ; he was holding Vandever's Hill ; the head of a column of Hessians 
was there; and now more desperate a man from Plymouth brought these 
words of another, who, starting from his bed and running naked through the 
night had fallen at his door, that a heavy column on the further road by the 
Delaware was in Lafayette's rear, beyond Barren Hill, beyond Whitemarsh. 
The bugles sounded, the tents fell, the camp was hurried into order ; and now 
Parr's command, marked with their work, splashes of dirt and splotches of 
blood, dashed into the camp and to the tent of Lafayette. 

The column on the Ridge had been broken by these and were on the river- 
side. It was the imminence of peril, strategy alone could save them from 
utter destruction. Lafayette's orders met this imminence of danger. " Mc- 
Lane back to the Ridge, detachment to follow at once in order of battle before 
the British columns in his rear ;" checked and bewildered the British com- 
manders themselves fall into order of battle. 

So he covered the retreat that gave him that great renown ; by defiance, by 
courage, by prudence he made his way through inevitable slaughter ; with a 
desperate energy yet regular and steady. Wagons and camp and arms, the 
whole body of his command, he swung down to Matson's ford ; a bridge con- 
necting east and west Conshohockou, now crosses at this ford. Hidden by 
intervening trees, along the low woody grounds, they reach the river border. 

But it is from peril to peril ; no bridge was here which safely reached would 
bear them to the further side and then broken down would leave these orderly 
walls of brutal iron narrowing in uiaon them, powerless. A swollen dan- 
gerous river only was there breast-high, neck-high, surging its waves to make 
their way impossible. 

Lafayette's command was the flower of the army at Valley Forge, intrusted 
to him as Washington's outlying camp, with the most earnest admonitions 
for its care. LTpon its preservation hung the safety of the whole Army. 
Behind him in order of battle he had set the body guard of Washington, 
behind them yet, were McLane's eighty men, fighting, bafl^ing, masking the 
retreat ; concentrating against himself the British Army. They must not be 
delayed an instant by this mass of men and horses shrinking back from the 
encounter with the swollen waves, for his orders to them were to hold to the 
last extremity. When they reach the ford they will be driven, step by step, 
by the heads of those three columns closing together hand to hand to the 
water's edge. 

The men stand breast high in the water, a band of friendly Indians with 
them terror struck by the British Dragoons are swimming. Rough rocks 
lock the wagon-wheels, the danger before seems no less than the peril they 
leave; the moment of doubt and indecision, the supreme hour had come; in 
desperate emergencies it requires some act which affronts danger to inspire 
men, and Lafayette fails not here. He flings himself from his horse and 
stands or floats with the rest — strides neck deep through the water. 



CHESTNUT HILL. 513 

As in the night before he had by his prudence guarded their sleep ; as in 
the morning he had saved them from annihilation, and even now by his 
couriers bringing to their succor AVashington's command from Valley Forge, 
so by his courage, by his own equal encounter with the death before them he 
gives them that impulse which the hour requires. He makes himself their 
pathway through the perilous waters. Breast deep, neck deep, they strive 
against the swollen tide ; the line of the soldiers lengthens toward the further 
shore, their heads showing like buoys in the huge nets of the fishers of the 
Delaware, the shouts of those who reach the opposite shore encouraging those 
who follow ; still in the midst struggles Lafayette with the rest. Hor.ses and 
wagons among the debris float down upon its swollen waters. But the further 
shore begins to blacken with his men, the saved increase, preponderate; 
Lafayette himself passes on beyond all danger ; the ford is clear as McLane 
and the guard are borne backward to it. Close on them the red cross of Eng- 
land lifts above the heights, but succor had come, the peril is passed. From 
the opposite shore flashes and thunders against it — our own cannon from 
Valley Forge. The army from A'alley Forge was there ; its iron hail hurtles 
across the swollen waters as these men plunge also into the stream, and 
shelters their passage. 

Then, writes one of the household of AVashington, was presented a spectacle 
of memorable interest — the broad river flowing between stained antl turbid. 
On the one shore the death emissaries of the King, paid and fed machines to 
do the work of death against the world's deliverance, down over them the red 
cross of England sullenly sinking ; and on the opposite shore the clouds of 
the cannon of A'' alley Forge rising, gathering and breaking away in the sun- 
light, and in its golden halo the form of AA^ashington, surrounded by his 
officers, encouraging by his presence and sheltering by his cannon their 
perilous passage. 

How nobly do these two great personages of the Revolution associate here : 
Lafayette bringing to AVashington's feet the command entrusted to him w'ith 
such earnest admonitions, and saved by such consummate prudence and 
courage; AVashington on that height, surrounded by his officers, amid the 
thunder of the sheltering cannon, that tried body, his own life-guard, saved ; 
those chosen men from all the regiments of the colonies saved — saved to make 
from that hour the people's cause secure. 

The river runs a swollen tide in the spring time, and it bears along its 
devastating waters rooted trees and rock, the debris sometimes of dwelUngs 
and death. So it pictures every year the dangers of that perilous passage, 
and the misery and desolation of that great revolution. But in these summer 
hours it flows in gentle sunlight and through banks of flowers. Let us not 
forget in this soft sunshine the darker hour of death and desolation, nor ever 
cease from gratitude. So forever shall our liberties endure. 



514 CHESTNUT HILL. 

WHITEMARSH AND SPRINGFIELD. 

On leaving Chestnut Hill, on the Bethlehem pike, and going toward "White- 
marsh, the County Line road marks the city boundary, and Springfield town- 
ship, in Montgomery county, is next entered. 

Two quaint little stone houses on the right, at the junction of Stenton 
avenue and the pike, one in the city, and the other out of it, belong to the 
Peterman family. Philip Peterman lived in the upper house and was suc- 
ceeded by his son .Jacob, who raised a large family. The family is no longer 
in the neighborhood. H. J. Williams purchased the houses and twenty-one 
acres of land of the Peterman family. Since his death they have fallen into 
the hands of Colonel Alexander Biddle, who resides in the brown mansion, 
jDrettily situated just above. 

Passing through the toll-gate and by Thorp's lane, named from the Thorp 
family, who had print works on the Wissahickon, we come to the hotel with 
the peculiar name of Wheel-Pump, given it because of a double-acting pump, 
turned hy a crank with a fly-wheel, making a continuous current of water. It 
is still in use. A little creek crosses the road here surmounted by a bridge. 
It is a tributary of the Wissahickon. Old deeds style the creek Gravel Run. 
It was sometimes called Paper Mill run, as there was a paper mill on the road 
leading to Roslyn Heights. A pond on the right aids by its water power the 
agricultural works of Wm. H. H. Heydrick. The manufactory belongs to 
Daniel Yeakel. The pond is on the farm of Daniel Yeakel, which consists 
of eight}'-four acres. This farm has been in the Yeakel family over a 
century, Abraham, the grandfather of Daniel, owned the place during the 
Revolution and lived on it. Abraham was the son of Christopher, who built 
the old log house still standing at Cresheim creek and Germantown road, 
and dwelt in it, and afterward built and lived in the Schultz house, at the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, in Chestnut Hill. Abraham's son Isaac re- 
ceived the property at his father's death, and from him it passed to his son 
Daniel, the present owner. The old stone farmhouse was built by Abraham, 
and an addition was made in 1787. 

The Wheel-Pump tavern is owned and kept by Robert Gordon. It belonged 
to the Heydrick family, who leased it to various persons. The stone house on 
the left hand side was tlie Heydrick farmhouse. The long, gray stone dwell- 
ing on the right was the dwelling and store of the Heydricks. Charles Hey- 
drick now owns and occupies it, but the store is no longer kept. The Wheel- 
PumjD House is a name given to the hamlet. 

"ROSLYN HEIGHTS." 

Near by on Willow Grove road, is the Roslyn Heights Hills. Among the 
houses situated there is the beautiful country place built by Washington 
Brown, of Philadelphia, and afterward in possession of Edward Machette. 
It is now owned by the Gratz family and called " The Heights." Among our 



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CHESTNUT HILL. 517 

illustrations is " Roslyu Heights," lately built, the residence of Stevenson 
Crothers. It is one of the best-located houses at Chestnut Hill. It overlooks 
the Valley Forge Hills, Conshohockon, Whitemarsh A^alley, Flourtown, Barren 
Hill and a score of little villages that dot the broad stretch of landscape to be 
viewed on all sides. The house is of the Modern Queen Anne style of archi- 
tecture, contains twelve rooms and has all of the modern improvements. 
The farm consists of about sixty acres which Mr. Crothers has turned into a 
stock farm, which has several streams of crystal water floM'ing through it. He 
is also each j^ear improving and adding to the natural beauty of what is 
already an ideal spot for a home. 

Before reaching that place, the old Iverper property stretches along the road. 
There is an old stone farmhouse and barn. J. Lowber Welsh has bought the 
property for improvement. 

There is a crushed stone walk from Thorp's lane on the Township line. 
The pedestrain leaves the street lamps, which are the tokens of city life. A 
stone ciuarry presents itself, which shows how a town like Chestnut Hill may 
be built, as the material is close at hand. We ride by Commodore Kittsoii's 
stock-farm and race-course, called " Erdenheim," founded by Aristides Welch, 
about twenty years ago. Some four or five years since he sold the propertj^ 
to Mr. Kittson and moved to Germantown. 

In walking along the Wissahickoii, we notice that it is not as wild as lower 
down, where the drive is so well wooded, and has made the stream so famous. 
Still the overhanging willows give a gentler beauty, such as is seen in pictures 
of English scenery, especially about Windsor Castle on the Thames. Two 
fishermen are patiently plying their craft in the sun, like good Izaak Walton.- 

The Plymouth Railroad, with its trestle work, shows that the country has 
felt the advance of civilization. The golden wheat, shocked or lying on the 
ground, forms a very pretty feature of the landscape. Some lime kilns near a 
bridge over the Wissahickon make a striking scene with their rude outlines, 
though the new bridge, built of wood, stone and iron, in A. D. 1884, gives a 
modern air to the spot, and affords a contrast between new and old so often 
found in this land. Still the bridge is a good and useful one, and let us be 
thankful as we walk over it that we are so well provided with a passage over 
the stream. This Montgomery county bridge had Ellwood Hart as its con- 
tractor; James Burnett, Hiram Burdan and William L. Rittenhouse were on 
the inscription as in oversight of the work. James B. Holland was the clerk. 
May their work long stand. A dam is just above the bridge, and sight and 
sound of the falling water refreshes one on a hot day. Valley Green mill 
stands at this point, and a country mill is always picturesque. This is now 
in the hands of Chalklej' Ambler ; it was formerly Day's mill, and still earlier 
Mento's mill. 

The road which we have been traversing is called Valley Green road. The 
Hon. William A. Yeakle, a local historian of note, lives upon it, and I re- 



518 CHESTNUT HILL. 

gretted that I did not learn that fact until I had passed his door, and it was 
too late to paj^ him a call of resjject and to seek guidance in mj^ meanderings. 
Oh the Bethlehem pike, after leaving the Valley Green road, the White- 
marsh Union Church may be seen on a hillside. The old building is of stone 
and is pebble-dashed. It has been remodeled. It stands near St. Thomas's 
Episcopal Church, which is, however, more ancient as to parish history. 
The Lutherans and German Reformed use this building in common. The 
Lutheran minister is Rev. Dr. Sheeleigh, and Rev. Mr. Detrich is the Reformed 
minister. Each congregation has one service a day in the church on Sundays. 
Dr. Sheeleigh holds the Upper Dublin Lutheran Church also, and Mr. Detrich 
has another parish at North Wales. Dr. Sheeleigh resides on a cross road 
near the church, and Mr. Detrich lives in Flourtown. Frank Seltzer's pretty 
country place is quite a notable feature. 

WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS 

Is in LTpper Dublin township, at the edge of Springfield township. The 
farmhouse is in Upper Dublin and the springhouse in Springfield. Mr. Charles 
T. Aiman is the present owner of the farm, who jiurchased the place of the 
administrators of John Fitzwater, at a public sale, on November 19th, A. D. 
1857. Fitzwater bought it in 1833. .John Fry was the previous owner. 
Previous to that the Stuckart family owned it, and still previous to that George 
Emlen, Jr., was the possessor. It is supposed that he was the builder of the 
old mansion, which was styled Emlen's Folty, at Chestnut Hill, perhaps on 
account of its size. The fine old wood-work has lately been recolored. The 
parlor was the scene of the trial of General Waj'ne on account of the surprise 
at Paoli, but he was cleared. The interior and exterior have been somewhat 
remodeled. The windows have been filled with modern glass, but the strong 
old walls yet stand. Anciently there were inside shutters. A rear wing has 
been taken down as being in deca3^ Porches and piazzas have been added. 
In Washington's day there was a small porch on the south side and another on 
the west side. A long comfortable piazza now stretches the whole length of the 
south side, with its cedar posts in keeping with the structure. Green blinds 
protect the windows. The old soapstones which were under the old south 
porch still keep their place ; and the feet of the incomer tread the stones which 
Washington trod. The house is long, and faces the Edge Hill and Whitemarsh 
road. The building is mostly of limestone to which some Camp Hill stone are 
added. It is two stories high with dormer windows in the roof. Two parti- 
tions are of stone. Mr. Aiman has kept the property in excellent repair and 
made needed improvements and added fine outbuildings. The old stone barn 
became decayed and was of necessity removed. Washington made this his 
headquarters on both of his sojourns here. The old house lies at the foot of 
Camp Hill. The encampment stretched from the rear of the house along beyond 
St. Thomas's Church toward the Limekiln pike. West of the Bethlehem pike 



CHESTNUT HILL. 519 

lies Militia Hill, where the militia were encamped. The "Washington house 
was anciently plastered with clay and cut straw, which was difficult to remove ; 
the nails were wrought and hand made, the laths overlapped the studding and 
were woven together in a basket form. The present house is 80x30 feet, and 
the wing which has been removed was about 28x30 feet. The front stairway 
formerly ascended from the parlor, but has been removed by Mr. Aiman to the 
hall. I am indebted to Mr. Aiman for the.se particulars. In Lossing's Field 
Book of the Revolution, Vol. II, p. 114, it is stated that the farm house whicli 
Washington used was owned by the wealthy Ehner. The ruins of his spring- 
house are mentioned though there was a modern one. The soapstone steps of 
the house are also noted. The old thatched barn was said to be contemjjorary 
with the house. A large catalpa tree comes in for notice. When Lossing 
visited the place it was owned by John Fitzwater. The roof of the old barn 
was then falling in. The American camp was on the hills north of the old 
mansion, the right wing being on Wissahickon creek and the left on Sandy Run. 
Near Mather's Mill were the remains of the old redoubt. There were vestiges 
of the chimneys of log and stone of the huts of the army. At one time it is 
said that the British scouts of General Howe were killed above Chestnut Hill 
and the General threatened to raid the countrj^ district, if that mode of warfare 
was not stopped, and it ceased. The smiling country now looks as if it had 
never had such stern experiences. 

The veteran historian, Lossing, sends the following note : 

Dover Plains, N. Y., 

July 1st, 1889. 
My Dear Sir : — I thank you very much for your kind courtesy in sending 
me a copy of the Germantown Telegraph, containing your valuable article 
on " Chestnut Hill," " Whitemarsh," etc. Your minute historical and exact 
details are of very great interest to readers residing in your region, nay to all, 
whether living far or near from these interesting localities. It would give 
me great pleasure to revisit them now, but it may not be. Indeed the vivixl 
pictures in memory, of the places described in my Field Book of the Revolu- 
tion, are so changed, after the lapse of forty years, that they (the places) would 
not bear, in many cases, a semblance of my then delineations. Again, 
thanking you, I remain. 

Yours most sincerely, 

Bexsox J. Lossing. 
Rev. S. F. Hotchkin. 

John R. Fell, son of J. Gillingham Fell, has built a beautiful stone mansion 
of architectural style, on the summit of Camp Hill, and Mr. Ralph of Phila- 
delphia, has built near (Jamp Hill station. 



520 CHESTNUT HILL. 

WHITEMARSH. 

When Washington's forces were fit to move, after the battle of Germantown, 
he transferred them from the SkijDpacli to Wliitemarsh, only twelve miles from 
Philadelphia, wishing to make further efforts to recover the American capital. 
His headquarters were at the " Emlen mansion," afterward the property of 
Charles Aiman. Some of the lines of defense then made may be seen near 
Fort Washington. General Howe, expecting to be attacked again, was watchful. 
He strove to surprise Washington. Two English officers held a conference 
with regard to an attack on Whiteraarsh, in the house of William Darrach, 
about the 2d of December. One was believed to be Major Andre. The family 
were requested to go early to bed, but Mrs. Lydia Darrach was to let the officers 
out at the close of the conference. She listened at the door and heard an order 
for the troops to march for an attack on Washington on the evening of the 4th 
of December. She returned to her chamber, and when the officer knocked at 
her door feigned sleep, only answering the third knock. She did not dare to 
inform her husband, but went to Frankford apparently to buy flour, Howe 
having given her a pass. She met the American officer, Lieutenant Colonel 
Craig, who knew her, and told him her message, enjoining secrecy as to her 
own part in the transaction, to shield herself from danger. The Colonel 
informed Washington who thus bafiied the attempt. Lydia returned with her 
flour. She heard the British troops depart at night. After their return in a 
few days the officer took her to his room, locked the door, and asked whether 
any of her family were up on the night of the conference. She said that they 
had gone to bed at 8 o'clock. He declared that he knew that she was asleep, 
as he had knocked thrice at her door before she heard him. He said that 
when they neared Whitemarsh the cannon were mounted and the troops 
ready, and he added : " We have marched back like a parcel of fools." Lydia 
Darrach had a son who was an officer in the army of the Americans near the 
city. See " Washington at Valley Forge," by Theo. W. Bean, pp. 26-28. 

FRANKLIN A. COMLY. 

In visiting Flourtown I had the pleasure of meeting the gentlemanly 
Franklin A. Comly, the first President of the North Pennsjdvania Railroad 
Company. He died April 25th, 1887. The Philadelphia Inquirer states that 
he descended from Henry and -Joan Comly, who accompanied William Penn 
from England in 1682. A part of the Manor of Moreland was in after years 
in the hands of the family. Franklin A. Comly was born at Walton's Mill, 
at Bethayres, as he afterward named the place for his mother, Elizabeth Ayres. 
The lad was in the hardware business in Philadelphia, under Robert A. 
Parrish. When he became of age his faithfulness caused his admission to 
partnership. He also became agent for a Sheffield (England) cutlery firm, and 
was made President of the Buck Mountain Coal Company and of the North 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which he managed with enterprise and 



CHESTNUT HILL. 521 

prudence. He was a director of numerous other business companies, and M'as 
active, even in advancing years, until his health began to fail the autumn 
before he died, and for a few months he was much confined to his house. Mr. 
Comly's ample house, with its wide piazza, was once a hotel, where the 
passing teamsters used to sleep in the buffalo robes which they brought with 
them. A large barn is attached to the old-fashioned residence. 

Franklin P. Seltzer's fine residence nearby, with its extensive and beautiful 
grounds, was in 1837 the home of Judge Morris Longstreth. He died here. 

ST. THOMAS'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The Farmar family were the founders and principal patrons of this church. 
Tradition from various sources says that between A. D. 1690 and 1700, a log 
church was built, which was burned in 1710. We may imagine the old 
wooden stoves, and the dry wood around the pipe which perhaps encouraged 
the flames, while the country side was excited as the news of the loss was 
spread abroad. In the burning of a depository of religious books in New 
York City, a leaf of the Bible was wafted some distance hj the flames, con^ 
taining the words of Isaiah 64, 11: "Our holy and our beautiful liouse, 
where our fathers praised Thee, is burned up with fire ; and all our pleasant 
things are laid waste." This may describe the feelings of the suff'erers on this 
occasion. A new stone building was erected on land given by Edward 
Farmar, and the glory of the latter house was, as in Scripture prophecy, 
greater than that of the former. This stood 107 years. The name of the first 
pastor is unknown. Edward Farmar's coat-of-arms is given in Bean's Historv 
of Montgomery County, whence our information is derived. About 1695, 
Rev. Mr. Clayton established the services of the Church of England in Phila- 
delphia. Rev. Evan Evans came to this country in 1700, and was rector of 
Christ Church, Philadelphia. He frequently went fifteen or twenty miles into 
the country to minister to church people who requested it. No doubt he 
found simple, primitive hospitality, and that the services were earnest, though 
infrequent. In 1718 Mr. Weyman was appointed, by the Society for Prop- 
agating the Gospel in Foreign Part?, Missionary at Oxford and Radnor. He 
informed the Society of the congregation at Whitemarsh, ten miles from 
Oxford, desiring a minister, and which had "for the decent performance of 
divine worship erected a goodly stone building." He resigned Radnor, and 
gave his labors chiefly to Oxford and Whitemarsh. In 1733, Rev. Alexander 
Howie succeeded him. After nine jesLTs' service, he went to the West Indies. 
The Rev. William Currie became rector in 1742, when the wardens were John 
Barge and Hugh Burk; and the vestry, Thomas Bartholomew, William 
*Malchior, Edward Burk, Francis Colley, William Dewees, Jr., and John Burk. 
In 1742, it was agreed by the vestry to give James Whiley, " dark," for 
officiating and cleaning the church and keeping things in order, five pounds, 
per year. The old tiles were ordered to be sold, and the roof covered with 



522 CHESTNUT HILL. 

shingles. A new pew and pulpit and railing round the communion table- 
were ordered, also a cedar fence for the graveyard, with three gates. There 
were some forty contributors. Samuel Gilkey repaired the roof. Jacoby 
Whiley and George Lawrence attended to the carpenter work. 

Rev. Eneas Eoss, in 1743, resigned Christ Church, Philadelphia, to take 
Whitemarsh and Oxford, and continued as rector till 1758. He was trans- 
ferred to New Castle, Dalaware. Rev. Hugh Neil succeeded him, and was 
rector until 1766. It is supposed that Rev. Dr. William Smith, provost of the 
College of Philadelphia, officiated occasionally after this date until 1779. The 
record books were destroyed in the Revolutionary War. 

In 1768 -John B. Gilpin and Andrew Redifer were elected wardens, and 
Edward Burk, Levi Stannard, William Hicks and Frederick Hitner, vestrymen. 
It was ordered that the church be repaired. Rev. Joseph Pilmore was chosen 
minister, and John Stewart appointed clerk. In 1797 Bishop Hobart was in 
charge. I suppose that this was when the Bishop of New York, in his early 
ministry, was rector at Oxford. Rev. Slator Clay and his son. Rev. Dr. Jehu 
C. Cla)', were also rectors. Rev. Bird Wilson, rector of Norristown, and Rev. 
Mr. Roberts did service here. Rev. John Rodney served this point with Ger- 
mantown ; Rev. Dr. Cruse, afterward librarian in the General Theological 
Seminary, New York, and Rev. John Reynolds .served from 1833 to 1836 ; 
Rev. William H. Diehl to 1852 ; Rev. George Foote to 1855 ; Rev. David C 
Millet from 1S56 to 1864; Rev. Charles Bonnell, Rev. Peter W. Stryker, and 
the present rector. Rev. H. Meigs, followed. 

A new church wa? built in 1817, but the tower and spire were not finished 
until between 1847 and 1857, when the parsonage and school-house were 
built, and additional ground bought, and a bell of 1100 pounds weight, and a 
communion service presented. The church was of stone. The spire was 130 
feet high. A drawing of the church was made in May, 1857, perhaps the 
only one extant. The distance to Oxford Church does not exceed nine miles. 
In 1734 a road was opened between these two churches and declared public, 
being called " Church road." Tradition affirms that several Indian chiefs 
were buried at Whitemarsh churchyard. American soldiers were quartered 
in the church in the Revolution. The British occupied it when pursuing the 
Americans after the battle of Germantown, and again when they marched 
out to attack Washington, they stayed in it for several days. The new sand- 
stone church was used for worship in 1877 and completed in 1881. The stone 
was from the neighborhood. There is a fine tower, and tiie beautiful location 
adds much to its effect. The oldest gravestone with a date in this ancient 
cemetery is that of Jamas Allison, who died in 1727. This is the oldest of the 
Episcopal Churches in the county, the next in age being St. James's Church, 
Lower Providence, which dates back to 1721. • 

The Church road mentioned above was not properly laid out until 1811. It 
is pleasant to think of it in its first rude state, when the missionaries of the 
Propagation Society of the English Church rode along it between Oxford and 



- CHESTNUT HILL. 523 

Whitemarsh, thinking of their dear old English homes, and the mother 
church which had sent them out to plant the Gospel in a new land. If one 
would see what kind of a life they led, let him read the most interesting 
historj^ of Trinity Church, Oxford, by its former rector, the Rev. Dr. Buchanan. 
See also for history of St. Thomas's Church, Thompson Westcott's History of 
Philadelphia (Scrap Book Historical Society of Pennsylvania), Chapter 520. 

William Heyward Drayton, Esq., whose beautiful place is not far from St. 
Thomas's Church, takes an interest in the pai-ish. The family place of the 
SheafFs is about a half a mile from the church, on the Skippack road. One 
of this family has been a patron of the parish school, while Mr. Briiighurst 
has been a good worker in church affairs, and so the old parish carries on its 
beneficent work through the generations. 

There is a tablet to William Piatt, Jr., in the church. He was the Superin- 
tendent of the Philadelphia Department of the United States Sanitary Com- 
mission, and visited the battlefield of Antietam on a mission of mercy, and 
was stricken by disease, and death followed. The inscription is, "Greater 
love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends," 
St. John XV, 13. 

UNION CHURCH. 

LTnion Chuech, at Flourtown, is held by the Lutheran and Reformed 
bodies conjointly. It was built in A. D. 1818, and remodeled in 1867, when 
the tower was added. It is of stone, with stained glass windows ; the rose 
window completely covered with ivy on the lower gable is beautiful. There is 
a large burial-ground, and its white gravestones may be seen for some 
distance. There is a monument to General Scheetz here. The Lutheran 
pastors at Barren Hill had charge of the Lutherans here until Rev. Mr. 
Sentman's day. Since Upper Dublin Church was built in 1857, it has been 
joined with that parish. Rev. Lewis Hippee was pastor until August, 1859. 
Rev. Edward Koons, Rev. George Sill and Rev. Matthew Sheeleigh, the pres- 
ent pastor, succeeded him. Rev. George Wagner was the German Reformed 
pastor in 1858. Rev. J. P. Dietrich, D. D., is now in charge, and he lives 
near the churcli. 

THE SPRINGFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

A part of the German Reformed element in the Union Church, at Flour- 
town, wished to inaugurate new measures in advancing religion, and established 
a Sunday-school and carried it on for some time. The younger portion of the 
German Reformed Church withdrew and erected a building near Union 
Church, on the southeast of it, and there the Sunday-school was held, and 
afterward there were preaching services. This bod)'^ later on removed to the 
lower part of Flourtown and built a church. Rev. A. J. Snyder was the first 
pastor, having been with the congregation at their removal. He remained 



524 CHESTNUT HILL. 

about ten years, supplying also the church at Jefferson ville, above Norristown, 
and he passed back and fourth every Sunday, preaching alternately morning 
and evening at each place. There have been several pastors since. Mr. 
Snyder is now in New Jersey. The first building no longer stands. The 
church became Presbyterian, and joined the Fourth Presbytery of Philadel- 
phia, as it then was. The Rev. A., W. Long is now the pastor. 

The Cold Point Baptist Church was first called Plymouth Church, and about 
A. D. 1842, the place was served by Rev. Robert Young, pastor of Chestnut 
Hill Baptist Church. A second church was erected. Alan W. Corson, the 
teacher and botanist, resided near this church. 

The Plymouth Friends' Meeting, on the Perkiomen turnpike, is an old 
institution, as well as that at Gwjmedd. An Evangelical Church was dedi- 
cated in Plymouth, in A. D. 1883, Rev. H. M. Capp, pastor. Mr. Buck and 
the late Hon. William A. Yeakle deserve much credit in guiding the local 
historian in studying Montgomery county. 

GENERAL HENRY SCHEETZ. 

There is a portrait of this ofl&cer in the house of his great-grandson in Rex 
avenue. Chestnut Hill. It was painted by the deaf and dumb artist, A. New- 
sam, who is buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 
Wilmington, Delaware. Tlie artist was a friend of the late Bishop Lee, the 
rector of that church. General Scheetz was an old-fashioned gentleman of 
decided character, and a leader in his neighborhood. He had a large influence 
in the Democratic elections. He lived in Flourtown, on the right hand in 
driving from Chestnut Hill. The house stands back, there being a deep yard 
and trees in front. It lias passed out of the hands of the family. The General 
used to own a paper-mill at Sandy Run, near Camp Hill Station. He ran the 
mill for years. His son, Henry Scheetz, Jr., also conducted it afterward. The 
General's brother, Justus, had another paper-mill near by. General Scheetz 
sold the paper-mill and it became a grist-mill, which was still called Scheetz's 
mill. John Schaeffer bought the property. Henry Scheetz emigrated to Ohio 
by wagon and canal, and carried on a paper-mill at Steubenville, and died there. 
Most of General Scheetz's life was spent on the mill property, and in his old 
age he retired to the village of Flourtown. Daniel 0. Hitner married the 
General's daughter, Catherine. Mr. Hitner owned the marble quarries at 
Marble Hall, and the iron furnaces which were then at Spring Mills, near 
Conshohockon. The Schuylkill Valley Railroad has destroyed them. D. 0. 
Hitner, Jr., the son of Daniel 0. Hitner, was the last person who conducted 
the furnace and marble works. His brother, Henry Scheetz Hitner, now 
deceased, was a partner in a portion of the business. General Scheetz was a 
General in the War of 1812. His son Jacob owned the stock-farm which was 
afterward purchased by Commodore Kittson. He farmed it. He sold it to 



CHESTNUT HILL. 525 

Dr. McEea, who sold to George Blight, who sold to Aristides Welch. President 
Buchanan was a friend of Jacob Scheetz, and visited him here when he was 
ex-President, about 1867. Norman W. Kittson was from St. Paul, Minnesota. 
The farm contained 400 acres. About 1861, Mr. Welch bought about 150 
acres and increased it to 250 acres. He bred famous horses, and owned Flora 
Temple. In 1882, Mr. Welch sold to Mr. Kittson for $125,000. The new 
purchaser increased the size of the farm still further. A part of this noted 
farm is in Springfield township. It has been sold again lately. 

John Jacob Scheetz, a minister of Crayfelt on the Rhine, was a member of 
the Frankfort Company. His son Henry came to this country and died in 
Whitemarsh., He had a paper-mill at Sandy Run, and a grist mill. He 
is said to have built another paper-mill in Springfield, owned by the 
famil}'. General Scheetz was born in 1*761, and was educated in country 
schools. During John Fries's rebellion, in 1798, he commanded a country bri- 
gade, but the rebellion subsided before he arrived at its scene. Governor 
Snyder appointed him Major General of Militia. In the war with England he 
marched to Marcus Hook to protect DuPont's powder works, near Wilmington. 
He died at Valley Green, in 1848, aged eighty-seven years. The house in 
which he lived, on the east side of the turnpike, became the property of Samuel 
Van Winkle, Jr. George Scheetz and Mrs. Sechler, of this neighborhood are 
relatives of the family. 

The country school teacher was an important factor in early days. There 
was one named Patrick Menan, an Irishman, who had General Andrew Porter 
and David Rittenhouse as pupils, and they rapidly progressed in mathematics 
under him. We honor the scholars, let us not forget the teacher who helped 
the formation of their character. Thomas Paxson, the father of Judge Paxson, 
taught school in Whitemarsh. Peter Le Gaux, a meteorologist and vine 
grower, was a scientific man who deserves notice in this region of country, 
Mrs. Toland, his granddaughter, occupied his house at Spring Mill. He was 
a friend of the Audubons. 

WissAHicKON Creek is a crooked stream, and it has a right to be so, for the 
Dutch Schuylkill and the Indian Delaware need something of its wayward 
disposition to enliven them, and so the grandchild stirs up both the mother 
and the grandmother as she pours her lively prattle into their currents. The 
creek rises from two small branches in Moiitgomery township, and flows 
through Gwynedd, Whitpaine, Upper Dublin, Whitemarsh and Springfield 
townships into the Schuj'lkill, nearly a mile below Manayunk. It is about 
nineteen miles in length and is an excellent mill stream. The principal 
branches are Valley Run and Sandy Run. A grist-mill was built on this 
creek near the beginning of the last centur}' by Edward Farmar. On Holmes's 
map this is called Whitpaine's creek, after Richard Whitpaine, a large owner 



526 CHESTNUT HILL. 

of land in Whitpaine township. In the Upland Court Records for 1677 it is 
called Wiesahitkonk, which the missionary Heckewelder says, in the Dela- 
ware Indian language, means "the catfish or yellow water stream." — From 
William J. Buck's account, in Bean's History of Montgomery County. The 
name Whitemarsh, in this same volume, is given as originally " wide marsh." 
I think it has also been referred to the whiteness of the marsh. 

WHITEMARSH. 

Madame Farmar's limestone is mentioned in a letter from Chief Justice 
Nicholas More, of Green Spring, to William Penn. Edward Farmar presented 
the lot for St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, in A. D. 1710, and took an active 
part in its erection and was almost its founder. A council of Indians was 
once held at his house. He is buried at St. Thomas's Church. 

Nicholas Scull was a noted land surveyor in Whitemarsh. He was Surveyor 
General of Pennsjdvania. Dr. Franklin's Autobiography says Scull " loved 
books and sometimes made verses." With George Heap he made a map of 
Philadelphia. He also published a map of the improved parts of Pennsyl- 
vania and Maryland. Scull could speak several Indian languages. — See 
Buck's History of Moreland, Pennsjdvania Historical Society, Collections, Vol. 
I, No. 5, A. D. 1853, p. 195, note. 

Silas Cleaver's mill belonged to Jonathan Robeson. The first mill was 
built by Edward Farmar. Peter Robeson was his son-in-law. Robeson town- 
ship took its name from Judge Andrew Robeson, of this family. Nicholas 
Kline built the present mill and owned it. Farmar's mill, which was built in 
1713, stood where the Gwj^nedd, North Wales and Philadelphia roads cross 
the Skippack. It is owned by Charles Otterson, Esq., of Philadelphia. Col. 
Samuel Miles organized a companj^ of militia here in Whitemarsh for service 
in the Revolution. 

Daniel Mentz's property, beyond St. Thomas's Church, was a camping place 
of the American soldiers in the Revolution, and remains of the encampment 
are said to be still visible. As we walk on toward Washington's headquarters 
we notice that the picturesque limekilns have been largely abandoned. This 
is because those near the Plymouth Railroad have a better chance of transporta- 
tion. Lentz & Cannon's kilns are at work. The pretty arches of the old kilns 
are a pleasant feature, and the stone constructions at sunset may well in 
imagination seem like ruined towers. The furnace stack of Edge Hill, in the 
distance is a striking object. General Scheetz, of the War of 1812, lived in the 
neighborhood through which we are passing. 

"BARREN HILL." 

The upper part of Chestnut Hill on the Reading pike used to rejoice in the 
name of Pumpkintown, but perhaps the appellation is now fading away. In 



CHESTNUT HILL. 527 

going to Barren Hill, here and tliere an old stone house of former days is seen 
by the roadside. There is a bridge over the Wissahickon and a fall above it. 
After passing the Convent, Morris Williams's place, with its water-wheel as a 
picturesque addition, is seen on the right hand. Hickorytown is visible in the 
distance beyond it, Mr. Pitcairn's house is on the brow of a hill and has a large 
lawn and grove around it. The village of Barren Hill has three inns, and 
contains some antique houses. There are two stores and a school-house. St. 
Peter's Lutheran Church is the main object in the town. A new building has 
been erected where the old church stood in La Fayette's day. The site is high 
and pleasant, and an ample old graveyard adjoins the edifice where the " fore- 
fathers of the hamlet sleep," as Gray expresses it in his inimitable Elegy. The 
parsonage is near by and was then occupied by Rev. J. S. McAtee, the pastor. 
The post-office here is named La Fayette Hill. There is an account of La- 
Fayette at Barren Hill in the Pennsylvania Magazine of Histor}'^, Vol. XI, p. 
115. His visit to the place with De Chastellux is described by that writer in. 
the first volume of his Reminiscences, p. 296. 

In the Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. II, p. 76, in 
Joshua Francis Fisher's "Early Poets and Poetry of Pennsylvania," is an. 
account of John Dommett, whose elegy was printed in the Mercury, in 1733. 
"He died at Whitemarsh, July 22, 1729." Dommett was, according to Mr. 
Fisher, " the first Professional Poet our country produced." He is supposed to 
have written panegyrical odes to Governors and others, which appeared in the 
Mercury. Some of Colonel John Parke's poems were written at Whitemarsh 
and Valley Forge, so the muse sang in war times, as in the case of F. S. Key, 
who wrote the "Star Spangled Banner" on a British vessel where he was a 
prisoner, having gone on board to deliver a friend from it. 

Alan Corsou and Mr. Middleton were the means of opening the Wissahickon 
turnpike. They surveyed it from Flour town to the mouth of the Wissahickon, 
and pushed it in court. Its length was eight and a half miles. Mr. Middle- 
ton was the President and procured tiie charter. The turnpike cost $37,500. 
It was started as a toll road, but the city made it free. The Park owns a part 
of it. The Indian chief, Tedyuscung, whose figure was placed on the Indian 
rock in the Park, belonged to the Lenni Lenape tribe. He, with forty other 
Indians, left this section about the time of the Revolution. The departing 
company consisted mostly of women, the men having gone before. See Charles 
S. Keyser's " Fairmount Park," p. 120. 

In tracing local names one must be careful not to be guided merely by 
sound. For instance : Lancaster county was so named when it was formed in 
1729, on account of John Wright, who was born in Lancashire, England, and so 
the old Roman and Saxon caster (castrum and ceaster), or camp is repeated 
here. On the other hand Lancasterville in the region now treated of was 
named in honor of a member of the Society of Friends. See Hotchkin's 
" Pocket Gazetteer of Pennsylvania," compiled from Dr. William H. Egle's 
History, p. 92. 



528 CHESTN'UT HILL. 

In German days, the region above Chestnut Hill, then known as Summer- 
hauseu, was called Kerfeld or Crefeld. The town in Germany, which the 
emigrants, with a loA'e of the fatherland, perpetuated, was noted for its silk and 
velvet manufactures. The word means Clayfield. The place has manufac- 
tories of woolen, cotton and linen goods and lace, and oilcloth. There are also 
potteries and tanneries. An ancient castle near by is utilized as a dye-house. 

CHURCHILL HALL. 

The Church Hill farm owned by Mr. Calvin Pardee is situated in White- 
marsh, Montgomery countj^, on Church road near where it joins the Bethlehem 
turnpike road. It is vis-a-vis on the same hill with that well-known land mark, 
St. Thomas's Church, and but a few paces from it eastward. It formed, in 
colonial days, a part of the extensive Hope Lodge Farm, and the use to which 
it was sometimes put is plainly shown by numerous mounds on which the tents 
of the American army were pitched after the battle of Germantown, in the 
grove between the church and farm house. This farm house, a not-pleasing 
three-storied building, which has for many years stood on the site, has been 
remodeled, from designs by Mr. Pearson, to make it in harmony with the times 
of historic scenes enacted in the neighborhood. To further this end, the old 
third storji- was removed and both the old part — to the left of picture — and the 
new addition^to the right^ — unified with a large hip roof, with clusters of 
colonial dormer windows and chimneys. The old exterior stuccoed walls, and 
the new, are covered with clapboards of a buff color, all the main features such 
as piazzas, windows, etc., being white, and the outside shutters green, the inten- 
tion being to give a correct colonial treatment of line and color to the mansion 
on so important a site. 

The main entrance is from the front piazza into a Great Hall 22 by 33 extend- 
ing the full depth of the house, with windows on three sides, and all finished in 
white painted wood and oak floor. Paneling extends from floor to ceiling, and 
a cornice of colonial detail girts the room dividing it into two portions of 
unequal width, by a colonnade continued therefrom to the floor. On the left side 
of this Hall is a huge fireplace of mottled brick, with high paneled mantel, 
and one may easily picture the great room filled with a jolly throng at holiday' 
time, and as the fire light projects great shadows into the room, and the fire's 
bright chemistry unmakes the logs which nature was great years in making, 
recall the words of the poet : 

" Shut in from all the world witliout 

We sat the clean-winced hearth about, 

Conlent to let the north wind roar 

In baffled rage at pane and door, 

While the red logs before us beat 

The front line back with tropic heat. 

And ever when a louder blast 

Shook beam and rafter as it past, 

The merrier up its roaring draught 

The great throat of the chimney laughed." 



CHESTNUT HILL. 531 

At the extreme northeast end of this Hall and facing the doorway is a 
semi-circular hay window, through which charming views may be had of the 
interesting scenery. Adjoining this bay is an arched Alcove containing the 
main stairway of colonial and extremely simple design, with scroll sides and 
very plain painted wood balustrade, the rail and steps being mahogany. To 
the right of the Hall is the Dining Room finished in the same style in painted 
wood, with low-paneled wainscot, and characteristic china closets and mantel.. 
To the rear of this room is a small Library, and the remainder of the first story 
is composed of kitchen and allied apartments. 

The second and third stories are made up of sleeping and bath rooms all 
finished in white painted wood, with quiet tones of color on walls and ceilings, 
Most of these rooms have fire-places, the attendant mantel-pieces being of very 
simple forms and all suggested by sketches taken from existing old work 
of kindred character in New England by the architect. The interior is lighted 
throughout by candles in clustered wall brackets of simple antique design, 
there being no artificial light. The system of plumbing is complete, the supply 
of water for which being taken from a remarkable well 40 feet deep. The aim 
in this remodeling has been to combine the quaintness and simplicity of style 
of past times architecturally, with the comforts of the present. 

The scenery which neighbors Churchill is noted for beauty, and in every 
direction may be seen places connected in a quiet way with historic army 
scenes of the revolution. But these environs bear but slight trace of this now, 
and in its stead one may contemplate the gentle undulation of hill and vale, 
the winding country roads, here a little of man, there a little of nature, and 
in this contemplation feel that serenity which comes to one away from the 
world's bustle and wrack, in such lovely spots as Churchill Hall. 



Appendix. 



ISTo. 1. 



Mr. Daniel K. Cassell, of Nicetown, who has written a book on the Mennon- 
ites, has corrected this sketch, and adds the following information : 

A number of Mennonites came from Crefeld, a city of the lower Rhine, 
within a few miles of the borders of Holland. They reached Philadel- 
phia on the 6th of October, 1682. Their first religious meeting w^as held 
in the house of Denis Kunders (Anthony Conrad), in 1683. William 
Rittenhouse came to Germantown from Holland, was their first minister, and 
in 1701 was ordained their first Bishop in America. He also built the first 
paper-mill in America. He died in 1708. Shortly after his death, his son 
Nicholas Rittenhouse and Dirk Keyser were ordained their ministers. In 
1702, Jacob Godshall, a Mennonite minister, came over and settled in Ger- 
mantown. On February the 10th, 1702-3, Arnold van Fossen delivered to 
John Neus and Henry Sellen, on behalf of the Mennonites, a deed for three 
square perches of land for a church, which was not built until six years later. 
After the death of John Neus, Henry Sellen gave a deed to the Mennonite 
Church of Germantown, bearing date September 6, 1714. 

I have the church book from 1770 down, and I have the family records of 
the Funks copied. Jacob Funk, the minister, was my great-grandfather ; he 
was ordained a minister in 1765 at the Indian Creek, Franconia, Montgomery 
county, and so recorded in their church book, and I have a copy of his will, 
also his father's will, who came from Germany and took up 150 acres of land : 
his patent is dated May 16, 1734. 

William Rittenhouse, the first Bishop in America in the Mennonite Church, 
was my great-grandmother's great-grandfather, so I am a direct descendant 
from him. David Rittenhouse, the astronomer, was first cousin to my great- 
grandmother, married to Dillman Kolb. I take much interest in the history 
of the Germantown Church. 

Mr. Cassell states that there were ■ thirteen families of Mennonites. J. D. 
Rupp is the reference as to the supposed holding of service in private houses 
and under trees. Jacob Funk's father, also named Jacob, was the nephew of 
Bishop Henry Funk, of Indian Creek. Jacob Funk died the 14th of March, 
and not the 11th. He had exceeded 81 years but one day. " Kolp " should 
be Kolb. "Getter" should be Kelter. A. D. 1675, should have been 1875- 

(583) 



534 APPENDIX. 

"Avenue" should be road. Jacob Funk, the minister, bought and occupied 
the farm in 1774. John was the oldest son of Jacob. " Febr." in the in- 
scription, should be Febrii. The last phrase " where a building has now been 
erected," should be omitted. " Deacon " should be a deacon. 
Mr. Cassell has Heinrich Funk's will or a copy of it. 



N"o. 2. 



MATTHIAS W. BALDWIN. 

A contributor signing himself " Old Times," wrote Col. Fitzgerald, editor of 
the Philadelphia Item, a sketch of the famous builder of the engine " Old Ii-on- 
sides," which we condense. 

Mr. Baldwin who constructed this first American locomotive, was born in 
Elizabethtowu, N. J., in 1795, and he died at Wissonoming, his country seat, in 
1866, aged 71. His activitj^ and purity are an example for young men of to- 
day. His father was Wm. Baldwin, and a good mother influenced his future life. 
His father died when he was a mere child. The faithful mother brought up 
the children to fear God and love their fellow men. 

Mr. Baldwin was of a mechanical turn in early life, as he constructed his 
toys, and would take apart toys given him to observe their construction. At 
sixteen he was apprenticed to the Woolworth Brothers, jewelers in Frank- 
ford, and became skillful in their work. He entered the jewelry business, and 
made beautiful designs. 

On reflection he was not content in view of the account to be given to God 
at last to spend his time in making ornaments. This experience however 
helped him in machine-building. 

He and David Mason, a machinist, became partners and made bookbinders' 
tools, which heretofore had been imported. They also made rollers for calico- 
printing, and improved the old style largely. 

In 1829 they brought their first steam-engine, which did not satisfy Mr. 
Baldwin, and he built one himself from his own plan. This was the best 
stationary .engine then built in this country. It worked over 40 years, driving 
finally the entire boiler-shop at the Broad street manufactory. The engine 
gave the firm a reputation and they led the country in making stationary 
engines. 

In 1830 the Camden and Amboj' Railroad Company imported an engine 
which they strove to keep from inspection, but Baldwin and Franklin Peale, 
who owned the Philadelphia Museum, found a M-^ay to see it in the warehouse. 
Mr. Baldwin examined it and enthusiastically declared that he could make one^ 
as his face glowed with ardor at the thought of his new work. He made a 
model for Mr. Peale's Museum where tracks were laid in the old Arcade in 



> 



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73 




APPENDIX. 535 

1831 ; from 4 to 8 passengers were carried. The exhibition was a success, first 
showing Philadelphians that steam could act as a transporter. 

In 1832 Baldwin built a locomotive for the Philadelphia and Germantown 
railwaj^, for $4000, the machine being made in six mouths, and during its con- 
struction the shop was moved from Minor street to Jayne, then styled Lodge 
Alley, to where the Collins & McLeester Type Foundry now stands. 

Though the engine succeeded, the railway company insisted on a reduction 
of $500 in the price. In the Daily Advertiser it was stated that the engine 
would go daily in fair weather with passenger cars, and on rainy days horses 
would be used, wet rails caused too much labor for the engine. 

Thus began the Baldwin Locomotive Works, now known over the world and 
able to produce a locomotive daily. In 1835 the shops went to Broad and 
Hamilton streets. Mr. Baldwin made many improvements in locomotives, 
being an intense student of mechanics. He was noted for industry and honest 
dealing. He was a practical Christian and gave much aid to the Presbyterian 
Church work, being generous and acknowledging his obligations to God. He 
gave to benevolent objects in general, and was also a good citizen and active 
worker in organizations to improve society. He was a friend of the colored 
man. He was once in the Legislature and was an Inspector of the County 
Pirison, and one of the founders of the Franklin Institute. He belonged to 
several important societies. 

His love of flowers is perpetuated by his -family in the kindly display of the 
beautiful handiAvork of God to the crowds who pass along Chestnut street. 
Music and painting charmed Mr. Baldwin, and he loved to share his pleasures. 
He was patient and foreseeing, and overcame discouraging obstacles, leaving a 
bright example to young men. 

He chose his home on Chestnut street, above 11th street, as he liked to be in 
the busy thoroughfare and to let others see those things which delighted him. 



^o. 3. 



FRANKLIN SCHOOL. 

Franklin School was first opened in September, 1885, by Mr. George A. 
Perry, who for several years had been classical master of Penn Charter School 
of this city. Dr. William Pepper, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, 
gave the school its name. Among others who first rendered it valuable 
assistance were Mr. Henry R. Gummey, Mr. John P. Ilsley and Rev. James 
De Wolf Perry, D. D. 

The school could hardly have been more fortunate in buildings and in 
location. The fine mansion erected at a cost of $100,000 by the late Mr. 
Charles Magairge, on Germantown avenue, near Walnut lane, had stood un- 
occupied for some time and was readily secured. To enlarge the grounds. 



536 APPENDIX. 

which extended from Germantown avenue to Adams street, but were too 
narrow to meet the requirements of the school, a large lot, 300x100 feet, was 
added from the adjoining estate of Mr. Shoemaker. Bj^ this addition and other 
improvements excellent provision has been made for out-door sports. It is 
scarcel}^ necessarj^ to state that in a building erected on a plan so massive and 
elegant, the rooms are exceptionally large, well ventilated and well-lighted. 
Seven of these have thus far been used for class rooms. The large Drawing 
Room on the left of the front entrance, has become the Assembly Room and 
Chapel, and is — like the other rooms — appropriately and tastefully furnished, 

In 1887 the school was chartered. The corporation was composed of Mr. 
Hampton L. Carson, Mr. John G. Dunn, Mr. Henry S. Grove, Mr. Henry R. 
Gummey, Mr. Anson H. Hamilton, Mr. John P. Ilsley, Mr. Calvin Pardee, Dr. 
Thomas C. Potter, Mr. Francis Rawle, Dr. George Strawbridge, Mr. George 
Willing and Mr. .James B. Young. Thus the school was established on a sub- 
stantial and permanent basis and was enabled to carry out more perfectlj' the 
purpose for which it was founded. 

This purpose contemplated a school for boys in which the highest standard 
of preparation for college and the schools of science should be united with ex- 
tended instruction in English literature and in history, and where the association 
of pupils should be wholesome and elevated. Other important features are the 
training in articulation, expressive reading and elocution, and a system of 
physical culture founded upon that which was formulated by Delsarte. 
Vocal music and drawing are also included in the instruction given. 

The present Staff of Instructors is as follows: Head-Master, George A. 
Perry, A. M. (Wesleyan University); Mrs. George A. Perry, A. B. (Vassar 
College); George P. Bacon, A. B. (Dartmouth College); John Rummell, 0. M. 
(Monroe College of Oratory) ; Miss M. Margaret Fine, A. B. (Wellesley College) ; 
Miss Ethel Percy (Wellesley College, and the Sorbonne, Paris) ; Mr. B. Monteith 
(Music). 



No. 4. 



RESIDENCES OF G. RALSTON AYERS AND S. HUCKEL, Jr. 

These new residences occupy the western half of what was formerlj' the 
Ketterlinus estate and creditabl}' represent the new style of suburban architect- 
ure, for which tliis section, including School Lane, is noted. The house of G. 
Ralston Ayers stands directty on the corner of Wissahickon and Chelten 
avenues, and overlooks the century-old trees on the Strawbridge estate. From 
the tower of this house a view is afforded of the Wissahickon valley and 
Roxboro beyond and stretching away as far as Chestnut Hill. It is one of the 
handsomest of the new residences in this beautiful suburb, and possesses many 
unique points in architecture, prominent among them being the large hall and 



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H 
2; 
O 

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o 
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H 



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> 
z 

D 



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APPENDIX. 5S7 

stairway from first floor to skylight and tower, all finished in hand-carved 
hard woods. The draperies and ornamentation are in perfect harmony. The 
wall, ceiling and frieze of each room are in one color but in many diiferent 
shades, and so delicately blended as to produce a most pleasing effect. 

The adjoining residence of Mr. Huckel is a sample of the revival of the old 
colonial style, with its black-end brick, classic column and quaint shingled 
gables, similar to many of the historic houses herein described, and is a cred- 
itable example of the pi-ofessional skill of Mr. Huckel who was the architect of 
both of these buildings. 



]sro. 5. 



" Philellena," No. 5510 Main Street, Germantown. The name of this beautiful 
place was given to it by George W. Carpenter in honor of his wife, Ellen, being 
a combination of a Greek syllable signifying affection with her first name. The 
lawn is extensive, bounding both Main and Carpenter streets. The shade and 
fruit trees and statuary and museum and fountain and the various buildings, 
including one that has an ofiice and clock tower, diversify the scene. 

Mr. George W. Carpenter's collection of minerals was extensive and well 
.selected. Birds and shells are added to these curiosities. An old stone barn, 
with its openings for ventilation, and i,ts surmounting bell, is a pretty feature 
on Carpenter street. It seems to protest against the widening of the street, and 
to envy the fine new cottages around it. The mansion stands far back from 
Main street, giving a good effect to the landscape. The elms and other monarchs 
■of the wood rejoice in the ample space allowed them. 



No. 6. 



The following list of books, published by S. Sower, from Prof Seidensticker, 
should be added to the letter on p. 421, of this volume. The Professor has 
the titles of otlier German books of this publisher. 

1791. Ein ganz neu eingerichtetes Lutherisches A. B. C. Buchstabir und 

Namenbuch. Chestnut Hill. 

1792. Die Klein e Harfe. 

" Gobias Hirtes auserleseues gemeiniitziges Handbiichlein. 

" Verschiedene alte und neue Geschichten von Erscheinungen der 

Geister. 
" . Die Wege und Worke Gottes in der Seele. 
" Ein Gespruch zwischen einem Pilger und Biirger. 

1793. Kurzer Bericht von der Pest Ein neues anserlesenes gemeinniitziges 

Handbiichlein. 



538 APPENDIX. 

ISTo. 7. 



THE CUYLER AR^IY HOSPITAL. 

The follo^^-iug data coucerning this hospital was furnished by Dr. James 
Darrach, of Germantown : 

" In the year 1862 the city of Philadelphia offered the Town Hall, of German- 
town, to the United States Government for hospital purposes. Under the 
influence of a number of patriotic ladies Dr. Darrach went to "Washington and 
obtained from the Surgeon General an order to the Medical Director of this 
district, and in July of the same year the hospital was organized, with Dr. 
James Darrach as Surgeon-in-charge, and Drs. J. M. Leedom, "W. R. Dunton, T. 
F. Betton, R. X. Downs, C. R. Prall, W. Darrach, Jr., Horace Y. Evans, John 
Ashhurst, Jr., and P. D. Keyser, as Assistant Surgeons. The capacity of the 
original building being too limited, additions were made which enabled the 
hospital to accommodate 630 beds. About this time it received the name of 
Cuyler Hospital in honor of John M. Cuyler, M. D., Medical Director, U. S. 
A. The ladies of Germantown continued to take an active interest in the 
hospital, and through their efforts was established a contribution room from 
which delicacies were daily supplied to the sick and wounded soldiers. About 
a year after the organization of the hospital Dr. Darrach resigned, and was 
followed by Dr. Josiah Curtis, U. S. "\'ol., and subsequently by Dr. H. S. Shell, 
U. S. A. The hospital continued to receive patients until the end of the war, 
and served a good purpose in receiving convalescent patients from the field 
hospitals, thus making room for those who needed prompt attention near the 
battle field. The hospital was closed at the end of the war, and the remain- 
ing patients were transferred to the Mower Hospital, Chestnut Hill." 



Index. 



A 
Academy, Germantown, . 
Agnew, General, .... 

Allen Family, 

America, Sons and Daughters of, 

Antes, Henry; Rev. E. McMinn's Life of, 

Ai-mat, Thomas, .... 

Army Hospital, .... 

Ax Burying Ground, 

Ayers, G. Ralston, Residence, . 

B 

Baldwin, Matthias W., 

Balfour, Major, 

Bank, Germantown National, . 
Bank of Germantown, 
Bardsley, John, .... 

Barren Hill, 501 ; Retreat of, by Charles 
Bartram, John, ..... 
Battle of Germantown, 192 ; Centennial, 

Bayard House, 

Bayne, John, ..... 
Bean, Col. Theo.W., .... 
" Beehive," Pastorius's, 

Belfield, 

Benezet, John Stephen, 

Bensell, Dr. George, .... 

Benson's (E. N.) Mansion, 

Betton, Dr. T. F., . . . . 

Bentz, Jacob and John, 

Billmej'er House, .... 

Bird, Col., 

Black's (Wm.) Journal, 

Blair, Rev. Dr., 

Bleachfield, 

Blight, George, 



S. Kej'ser, 



Esq., 



PAGE. 
75 

33 

386 
334 
253 
20 
538 
180 
536 



. 534 

. 253 

. 337 

. 101 

. 238 

. 511 

. 178 

. 203 

. 255 

. 213 

. 202 
258-263 

. 37 

. 230 

. 102 

. 468 

. 54 

. 243 

. 284 

. 33 

. 253 

. 185 

. 217 

. 296 



INDEX. 













PAGE. 


Bockius, Charles, 224 


Born, Cornelius, ...... 








. 262 


Bradford, William, 








. 256 


Bringhurst House, . . . . . 


. 






. 41 


Buchanan, Roberdeau, 








. 190 


Buck Hotel, 








. 242 


Burying Ground, Lower, 33, Upper, 170, 229, 241, A 


X, 180, Old 


Tree, 407 


) 


Towamensing, . . . . , 








. 203 


Butler (Ellen) Memorial, . . . • . 








. 348 


Butler, E. H., 


; 






. 141 


Button, John. 


• 




. 232 


C. 
Carlton, 220 


Carpenter, Geo. W., 










537 


Channon, John C. 










135 


Chestnut Hill, 










399 


Chew House, ....... 










192 


Cliew Coach, 










196 


Churchill Hall, . . . . . 










528 


Church, Trinit}^ Lutheran, .... 










292 


" Grace Episcopal, Mt. Airy, 










354 


" Mt. Airy Presbyterian, 










356 


" St. John's Episcopal, . . . 










37 


St. Stephen's M. E., 










41 


" St. Luke's Episcopal, .... 










80 


" First Presbyterian, .... 










114 


" Zion Evangelical, .... 










117 


" First Baptist, ...... 










136 


St. Vincent de Paul's B.C., 










136 


" St. Michael's Episcopal, .... 










152 


" St. Michael's Lutheran, .... 








286, 291 


" Mennonite, 








534, 156 


" St. Peter's Episcopal,' 








. 160 


" Christ Episcopal, 










163 


" Second Baptist, 










218 


" Dunkard, 










226 


" Calvary Ejiiscopal, 










276 


Mt. Airy M. E., 










358 


" Christ Lutheran, Chestnut Hill, 










407 


" Market Square Presbyterian, 










86 


" St. Martin's Episcopal, Chestnut Hill, 










424 


" Presbyterian, Chestnut Hill, 










426 


M. E., Chestnut Hill, 










428 



INDEX. 

Church, Baptist, Chestiiut Hill 

St. Paul's Episcopal, Chestnut Hill 
" Our Mother of Consolation, R. C, Chestnut Hill 
" St. Peter's Lutheran, Barren Ilill, 
" St. Thomas's Episcopal, White Marsh 
" Springfield Presbyterian, 
Union, 
Cold Point Baptist; 

Coach, Chew, 

Cocoonery, 

Colli nson, .... 

Comly, Franklin A., 

Concord School House, 

Conrad, Dennis, 

Consumptives' Home, 

Cope, Caleb, 

Cope's Grotto, . 

Cornwallis, General, 

Corvy, The, ■ . 

CoTj^ell, Lewis S., 

Coulter, John, . 

Courts, 

Craik, Dr., 

Craik, E,ev. Dr., 

Cresheim, . 

Cromwell, Oliver, 

Cuyler Army Hospital, 



Delaware River, 
Deshler, David, . 
Devonshire Place, 
Dispensary, 
Donat's Hotel, . 
Dorr, Rev. Dr., . 
Dreer, Ferdinand .J., . 
Drinker, Edward, 
Druim Moir, 
Dunn's (C. B.) Residence, 
Dunton, Dr., 
Duplessis, Chevalier, . 
Duval, James S., 

Earthquake, 
Eldon, The,. . 



D 



E 



PAGE. 

. 433 

. 445 

. 455 

. 502 

. 521 

. 523 

. 523 

. 524 

. 196 

. 230 

. 178 

. 520 

. 169 

. 245 

. 439 

. 483 

. 417 

. 201 

. 302 

. 314 

. 223 
246, 254 

. 201 

. 201 

. 380 

. 245 

. 538 

. 256 

. 66 

. 296 

. 342 

. 414 

. 245 

. 245 

, 262 
422 

. 491 

. 155 

. 201 

. 184 

. 190 

. 509 



INDEX. 



Ely, Bishop Benjamin, 
Engle House, 
Evergreens, The, 



F 



Fair Hill, . 

Feeble-Minded Children, 

Fire Insurance Company, 

Fisher, Joshua, . 

Forrest, Col., 

Fountain Inn, . 

Frame, Richard, 

Franklin School, 

Frankfort Land Company, 

Freas, Col. Philip R., 

Freas, Henry, . 

Friends' Meeting-House, 62, Plymouth, 

Friends' Home for Children, 

Funeral Invitations, .... 



G 

Galloway, Joseph, 

Germans, 253, 259, 267, Commemoration Day, 264, Characteristics, 
^len Fern and Livezy Family, 

Gowen, F. B., Residence of, 

Gowen Family, . 

Green Tree Tavern, . 
,^reene. Gen., 

Gross, Dr. F. H., 



H 



Hacker's (Jeremiah) House, 
Haines, Reuben, 
Haines, Miss, 
Haight, Rev. Dr., 
Hartel, Andreas, 
Haunted House, 
Hazard, Willis D., 
Hinego, Michael, 
Holsteiii, Maj. Matthias, 
Hood, William, .. 
Horticultural Soeietj', 
Horseback Riding, 

Hospital, Cuyler Army, 



PAGE. 

. 230 
. 142 
. 472 



. 262 

. 348 

. 339 

. 34 

. 180 

. 303 

. 256 

. 535 
229, 261 

. 38 

. 231 

. 524 

, 343 

. 272 



463 
265 
395 
388 
388 
155 
201 
264 



241 
167 
211 
201 
260 
405 
244 
191 
231 
34 
343 
247 
538 



INDEX. 



Houston, H. H., 

Houses, .... 

Howe, Gen., 

Huckel, S., Jr., Residence of, 

Hudson, Wm., . 



I'AGK. 

422 
240 
201 
536 
262 



Indians, 246, 258, Rock, 
Indian Missionary, Rev. F 
Inn, Mt. Pleasant, 
Inn, King of Prussia, 
Inquirer Phila., . 



. Post, 















457 
307 
360 
105 
264 



Johnson Houses, 

Johnson, Justus, 231, Anthony, 231, Johnson Family, 

Johnson, William N., M. D., 

Jones, Judge J. Righter, . 

Jones, Hon. Horatio Gates, 

Jordan, J. W., . 

Junkin, Rev. Dr. George, . 



K 



Kalm, Peter, .... 
Kelpius, John, .... 
Kelsey Place, .... 
^Kerper's (Daniel) Reminiscences, 
Keyser, Rev. Peter, Jr., 
Keyser, Dr. Peter D., 
Keyser, Jacob, 
Keyser, Dirk, 
Klinckens, 
Knox, General, 
Kulpsville, 



L 



Land, price of, . 

Lafayette College 

Laurens, John, . 

Lambdin, Dr. Alfred C, 

Levering Family, 

Levick, Dr. J. J., 

Library, Friends', 65, Association, 

Library, Lovett Free, 386, Christian Hall 



164, 165 
323 
173 
203 
118 
135 
185 



. 38 

. 178 

. 439 

. 408 

167, 224, 227, 237 

. 170 

. 185 

. 271 

. 223 

. 201 

. 201 



. 246 

. 187 

. 201 

. 200 

. 178 
175, 262 

. 341 

. 427 



INDEX. 



Lippard, George, 
Littell-Morris House, 
Littell, Rev. Dr. T. G., 
Littell, C. Willing, Esq., . 
Little, Amos R., 
^Livezy, Thomas, 463, Family, 
Lloyd, Governor Thomas, . 
Locke, John Engelbert, 
Logan, James, . 
Logan, Deborah, 
Lossing's Field Book, 
Lossing, Benson J., . 
Lowell, E. J., 
Ludwig, Christopher, 
Lutheran Home, 



,,Mackinett, Widow, . 
Matthias, . 
Manual Labor School, 
Marshall, Chief Justice, 
Marshall, Christopher, 
Maxwell, Gen., . 
Marriage Certificates, 
Masons (Free), . 
Martin's (St.) Church, 
Meng Family, . 
Meehan's Nursery, 
. Mechanics, 0. U. A., . 
Mermaids, . 
/Miller's (John) Diary, 
Middleton, Joseph, . 
Morris House, . 
Moravians, 
Morris-Littell House, 
Mover, 

More, Dr. Nicholas, . 
Morton's (Rob't) Diary, 
Mount Airy, 
Montgomery Avenue, 
Mt. Airy College, 
Murphy, Rev. Dr. J. K., 
Murdock, .James E., . 
Muhlenberg, Rev. H. M., 



M. 



PAGE. 


203, 280 


. 142 


. 155 


. 143 


; 280 


. 395 


. 262 


. 135 


. 21 


21, 254 


. 199 


. 519 


. 202 


. 288 


. 351 


. 201 


. 178 


. 185 


. 201 


. 201 


. 201 


. 271 


332, 415 


. 424 


. 315 


. 331 


. 333 


. 393 


. 211 


456, 458 


. 66 


. 122 


. 142 


. 230 


. 257 


. 253 


. 349 


. 545 


. 363 


.175 


. 231 


. 254 



INDEX. 



MacKellar, Thomas, . 
McClenachan, Blair, . 
McCuUough's (R. P.) Residence, 



Nash, Gen., 

Neglee's Hill, . 

Neil, Rev. Hugh, 

New.spapers, 

Norris, Isaac, 

Norris, Mrs. Mary, 

Northern Liberties, 

North's (George H.) Residence, 

Norwood Hall, . 

Norwood Avenue, 



Odd Fellow.s, . 
Ogden, Rev. J. C, 
Orchestral Society, 
Owen, General Joshua T., 



N. 







PAGE. 

. 237 
. 194 

. 283 



201 
20 
125 
479 
262 
263 
265 
452 
458 
488 



335, 337 
. 124 
. 345 
. 492 



Pardee, Calvin, . 

Paper-Mil I, 

Paxton Boys, 

Paul House, The, 

Pastorius, Francis D., 256, 

Pennypacker, Sam'l W., 

Peale, Charles Wilson, 

Penn, William, . 

Phillips, Wm., . 

Philellena, 

Physicians, 

Physick, Philip Syng, 

Pickering, Col., . 

Piatt, AVm., 

Poor-House, 

Post, Rev. F., . 

Pomona Grove, . 

Post Office, Chestnut Hill, 

Potter, Mrs. Thos., . 

Potter, Thomas, 



]\Ik 



Washingt 



on, 



See Churchill Hall 

. 121 

. 254 

. . 255 

. 264 

), 258, 261 

. 37 

. 2.59 

. 213 

. 537 

■ . 262 

. 230 

. 202 

. 487 

. 167 

. 307 

. 180 

. 432 

. 472 

. 472 



IXDEX. 



Potter, William, 
Potter, Charles A., 
Pythias, Knights of, . 



Queen Street, 



Railroad, Penna., 

Railroad, Reading, 

Reminiscences, . 

Reading Turn^^ike, 

Revolution, 

Richards, . 

Richardson, Samuel, 

Rittenhouse Family, 

Roads, 

Roberdeau Family, 

Roberdeau, Major, 

Rochefaucault, . 

Rodney, James Duval, Esq., 

Rodney Rev. John, 

Rush, Dr., . 

Rutherford, Robert, 



Sauer, Samuel, . 
Saving Fund, 

Scharf & Westcott's Pliiladelphia, 
Scheetz, General Henry, . 
Schlatter, Rev. Michael, . 
Schoolhouse Lane, 
Schumacher, Sarah, . 
Schutzen Park, . 
Seidensticker, Prof. Oswald, 
Seligius, Johannes, . 
Sener, Sven, 
Ship House, 
Shippen, Dr. Wm., . 
Shoemaker, Robert, . 
Shoemaker, Samuel, . 
Smith, Aubrey H. Esq., . 
Smith, Cornelius S., . 
Societies, ... . • 



Q. 



R. 



PAGE. 

. 484 
. 484 
. 334 



. 219 



. 416 

. 4i»5 

. 250 

. 497 

45, 229, 253 

. 230 

. 262 

. 118 

. 239 

. 188 

. 231 

. 313 

180, 229 

. 185 

. 259 

. 228 



. 418,537 
. 338 

. 259, 261 
. 524 
. 447 
. 125 
. 77 
. 223 
259, 261, 419, 421, 537 
. 178 
. 262 
. 223 
. 189 
. 123 
. 259 
.211 
. 220 
. 332 



INDEX. 



Soldiers' Monument, . 
Springfield, .... 
Sprogell Family, 
Stallraan's (John) Reminiscences, 
Steamboat House, 

Stenton, 

Stenton Avenue, 

Stone, Frederick D., . 

Stokes's Mill, .... 

Stokes, Charles, 

Stonecliffe, 

Stuart, Edwin S., . . 

St. Vincent's Seminary, 

Sullivan, General, 

Summit Street, .... 

Sweden, Holm's New, 



I 'AGE. 

. 211 

, 518 

. 150 

. 410 

. 353 

. 215 

. 438 
9 

. 83 

. 252 

. 4(54 

. 244 

. 242 

. 201 

. 437 

. 256 



Tacitus, .... 
Taylor, Charles, 
Taylor, Enoch, . 
Thomas, Gabriel, 
Thomas, Governor, . 
Thomas's (Geo. C.) Residence, 
Townsend, Richard, . 
Toll Gate, .... 
Traichel Place, . 
Tulpohocken Street, . 
Tunkens, .... 
Tulpohocken Street, . 
Tustin, Rev. Dr. J. P., 
Turnpike, Reading, . 

Ulmer, Wm. A., 
Unrod Family, . , 
Unruh Houses, . 
Unruh Family, . 
Upsal, .... 

Valley Forge, 
Vaux, Hon. Richard, 
Venable's Hist. U. S., 
Von Wurm, Col., 



U. 



V. 



. 259 

. 464 

. 231 
. 10-19 

. 259 

. 451 

. 246 

. 137 

. 132 

. 239 

. 246 

. 320 

. 185 

. 497 

112 
231 
324 
325 
172 

. 202 

133, 507 

. 211 

. 201 



INDEX. 



W. 



Wakefield, 

Wallane, John William, 

War Times, 

Ward, Townsend, 

Warner Family, 

Wasey, Capt. Joseph, 

Washington House, . 

Washington Taven , . 

Washington Lane, 

Washington's Piety, . 

Washington's Headquai'tert 

Water Works, . 

Watson, John F., 

Watson's Annals, 

Wayne, General, 

Well at Chew House, 

Welsh, John, 

West, Benjamin, 

White Cottage, . 

Whitemarsh, 

Whittiers's Pennsylvania Pilgrim, 

Wilkinson, General, . 

Williams, Henry J., Esq., 

Wilson, Alexander, . 

Wissahickon Inn, 

Wissahickon Drive, . 

Wissahickon Creek, . 

Wister (John) House, 

Wister, C. J., . 

Wister, Wm. Wynne, 

Witherspoon, Major, . 

Witherspoon, Parson, 

Witt, Dr., . 

Women's Christian Association, 

Woodward, Col. George A., 

Working Men's Club, 

Wright, Susannah, 

Wyck, .... 



Yagers, 

Yeakel Cottage, ... 

Young Men's Christian Association, 



17 



Y. 



PAGE. 
. 37 

. 256 

384, 247 

9, 29, 253 

. 175 

. 262 

. 66 

. 240 

. ]52 

. 201 

. 518 

. 327 

. 76 

. 244 

. 201 

. 281 

. 330 

. 259 

. 54 

520, 526 

. 261 

. 202 

. 436 

38, 191 

. 401 

. 496 

. . 517 

12 

42, 244, 253 
. 802 
. 201 
. 201 
5, 176, 231 
. 341 
. 132 
. 341 
. 252 
. 147 



201 
404 
138 



6994 



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